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What is an analytical laboratory technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Betsy Smith

Analytical laboratory technicians spend most of their time conducting experiments and analyzing findings to assist scientists, researchers, and scholars with their research. They can work in almost any field of research, be it chemistry, biology, geology, and many more.

Aside from experimentation and analysis, the duties of an analytical laboratory technician include generating reports, collecting specimens for experiments, maintaining laboratory equipment, keeping their work area clean, and monitoring the inventory of laboratory supplies. They also spend a lot of time collaborating with other laboratory staff and communicating with the requestors of experiments or procedures.

Most analytical laboratory technicians have a four-year degree in their respective fields. For instance, an analytical laboratory technician in chemistry would need to have a chemistry-related degree. Furthermore, anyone who wants to become an analytical laboratory technician must have ample experience with experiments, laboratory processes, and the use of various equipment.

When it comes to salary, analytical laboratory technicians make around $40,000 on average, but the pay can be as high as $53,000 or more.

What general advice would you give to an analytical laboratory technician?

Dr. Betsy SmithDr. Betsy Smith LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Elmira College

I would advise students just graduating to be flexible and open-minded in their job search. Chemistry is a challenging major, and students who succeed in it have learned how to learn, so they shouldn't assume that pure chemistry is the only thing they can do. One growing field is biomedical research, and chemistry majors are often qualified for jobs in that area. If you have other strengths like writing, there are often jobs that can combine them as a technical writer or work for a science journal. There are jobs out there that might be perfect for you that you haven't heard of until you see an ad for it, so be open to different possibilities.
ScoreAnalytical Laboratory TechnicianUS Average
Salary
3.2

Avg. Salary $41,538

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.9

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%

Asian 9.32%

Black or African American 7.06%

Hispanic or Latino 16.53%

Unknown 4.28%

White 62.40%

Gender

female 45.03%

male 54.97%

Age - 44
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44
Stress level
6.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Analytical laboratory technician career paths

Key steps to become an analytical laboratory technician

  1. Explore analytical laboratory technician education requirements

    Most common analytical laboratory technician degrees

    Bachelor's

    71.8 %

    Associate

    19.3 %

    Master's

    3.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific analytical laboratory technician skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Lab Equipment7.26%
    Analytical Lab6.40%
    HPLC5.72%
    Chromatography4.78%
    Wet Chemistry4.28%
  3. Complete relevant analytical laboratory technician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New analytical laboratory technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an analytical laboratory technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real analytical laboratory technician resumes.
  4. Research analytical laboratory technician duties and responsibilities

    • Lead aerobic, anaerobic and UV light testing, chemical residue testing and centrifuge to separate chemicals from water.
    • Analyze raw materials and finish products using HPLC, UV, GC, and FTIR according to specifications.
    • Acquire extensive knowledge of GMP and FDA regulations as well as specifications.
    • Prepare and analyze calibration curves and daily QC standards on GC and HPLC using ChemStation software.
  5. Prepare your analytical laboratory technician resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your analytical laboratory technician resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an analytical laboratory technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable analytical laboratory technician resume templates

    Build a professional analytical laboratory technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your analytical laboratory technician resume.
    Analytical Laboratory Technician Resume
    Analytical Laboratory Technician Resume
    Analytical Laboratory Technician Resume
    Analytical Laboratory Technician Resume
    Analytical Laboratory Technician Resume
    Analytical Laboratory Technician Resume
    Analytical Laboratory Technician Resume
    Analytical Laboratory Technician Resume
    Analytical Laboratory Technician Resume
  6. Apply for analytical laboratory technician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an analytical laboratory technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first analytical laboratory technician job

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Average analytical laboratory technician salary

The average analytical laboratory technician salary in the United States is $41,538 per year or $20 per hour. Analytical laboratory technician salaries range between $32,000 and $53,000 per year.

Average analytical laboratory technician salary
$41,538 Yearly
$19.97 hourly

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Analytical laboratory technician reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Pros

Skill level required does not equate with salary offered - should be paid more.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019
Pros

To discover new formulas and mixtures thats can break through the science world

Cons

I do not have a bachelor in chemistry but i do have a associate's in biology from the university of belize.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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