Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of laboratory technicians that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of laboratory technicians:
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Laboratory Supervisor is the highest-paid type of laboratory technician with an average salary of $67,361 and an average hourly rate of $32.39.
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The second highest-paying type of laboratory technician is dental laboratory technician, with an average salary of $55,271.
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The average laboratory technician salary is $40,038 per year, and the average hourly pay is $19.25.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as a laboratory technician, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of laboratory technicians are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of laboratory technicians:
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Laboratory Supervisor
Average Salary: $67,361
The primary job of laboratory supervisors is to oversee the daily operations of laboratories. They are responsible for facilitating the collection, analysis, and interpretation of laboratory results. Other responsibilities include supervising personnel, managing the operating budget of the laboratory, and hiring employees. Laboratory supervisors are responsible for overseeing quality assurance and enforcing practices to ensure quality control within the laboratory. Aside from these tasks, they also manage the acquisition of laboratory equipment and supplies and resolve any technical or administrative issues within the laboratory.
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Dental Laboratory Technician
Average Salary: $55,271
A dental laboratory technician replaces total or partial natural teeth loss by constructing partial and complete dentures. They restore the natural teeth by fabricating bridges and crowns. These professionals produce removable and fixed devices that assist in correcting dental irregularities. Besides keeping detailed reports, logs, forms, and records to note down actions, dental laboratory technicians also re-design, evaluate, and study processes to enhance care quality. Moreover, dental laboratory technicians keep equipment and supply inventories in working conditions. Also, they follow the right procedures and discretion at all times.
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Lead Laboratory Technician
Average Salary: $54,230
A Lead Laboratory Technician coordinates the operations of a laboratory. They supervise the preparation of specimens for tests, collection of blood, examination of blood samples, and other duties performed by the technician team.
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Laboratory Coordinator
Average Salary: $52,690
A laboratory coordinator is responsible for supporting laboratory examinations and experiments, collecting laboratory samples, and ensuring the efficiency and performance of laboratory tools and equipment. Laboratory coordinators maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the laboratory facility at all times to avoid contaminations and hazards that may affect laboratory results and accuracy of examinations. They also perform scientific processes under the supervision of a scientist or laboratory technicians and keep an organized report of findings in the database.
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Medical Laboratory Technician
Average Salary: $51,780
A medical laboratory technician is responsible for assisting medical health professionals in conducting laboratory tests to diagnose patients’ conditions and provide treatments. Medical laboratory technicians ensure the sanitation of all the tools and equipment before conducting tests. They collect adequate blood samples and specimens, analyze fluid elements, utilize laboratory equipment safely, create reports of findings, and alert medical personnel and medical technologists of emergency conditions. A medical laboratory technician must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry disciplines and processes to perform sensitive tasks and release accurate medical results.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various laboratory technician that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Laboratory Technicians
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for laboratory technicians.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Laboratory Technician Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid laboratory technician job?
The highest-paid laboratory technician job is a laboratory supervisor. Laboratory Supervisors earn an average salary of $67,361, which is $ 32.39 hourly.
The primary job of laboratory supervisors is to oversee the daily operations of laboratories. They are responsible for facilitating the collection, analysis, and interpretation of laboratory results. Other responsibilities include supervising personnel, managing the operating budget of the laboratory, and hiring employees. Laboratory supervisors are responsible for overseeing quality assurance and enforcing practices to ensure quality control within the laboratory. Aside from these tasks, they also manage the acquisition of laboratory equipment and supplies and resolve any technical or administrative issues within the laboratory.
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What is a good salary for a laboratory technician?
A good salary for a laboratory technician is $40,038 or more. The average laboratory technician salary is $40,038, so those making at least $40,038 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average laboratory technician salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as a laboratory technician, the average entry level salary is $0, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $40,038 average, as this includes all laboratory technicians of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Laboratory Technician jobs pay well?
No, laboratory technician jobs don’t pay well. As in any industry, some laboratory technician jobs pay better than others, but the average laboratory technician salary of $40,038 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many laboratory technician jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of laboratory technicians earning $0 a year on average.
Laboratory Technicians’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as a laboratory technician. Do your research on the going rate for a laboratory technician in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do laboratory technicians get paid the most?
Laboratory Technicians get paid the most in Alaska. In Alaska, laboratory technicians earn an average annual salary of $98,434 and an average hourly wage of $47.32.
Following AK, the states with the highest-paid laboratory technicians are New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, with average annual salaries of $50,010, $46,201, and $45,684 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid laboratory technician salaries are:
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New York, NY – $50,208
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Boston, MA – $46,160
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Richmond, CA – $45,492
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Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
