Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a laboratory aide
Quoted expert
Dr. Stacy Walz Ph.D
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for laboratory aides? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for laboratory aide jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Our research found that Alaska is the best state for laboratory aides, while Alaska and New Jersey are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Alaska has a median salary of $40,396 and Alaska has the highest median salary among all 50 states for laboratory aides.
The median salary for laboratory aides in Alaska is $40,396. Compare that to the median salary in Oklahoma of $21,799, which ranked worst for laboratory aides, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that Alaska is the best state for laboratory aide jobs, whereas Oklahoma is the worst.
10 best states for laboratory aides in 2026
1. Alaska
Total laboratory aide jobs: 214 Average annual salary: $40,396 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
2. New Jersey
Total laboratory aide jobs: 2,114 Average annual salary: $37,183 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
3. New Hampshire
Total laboratory aide jobs: 448 Average annual salary: $35,226 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
4. West Virginia
Total laboratory aide jobs: 384 Average annual salary: $34,509 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
5. Massachusetts
Total laboratory aide jobs: 2,226 Average annual salary: $36,495 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
6. Maine
Total laboratory aide jobs: 424 Average annual salary: $32,989 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
7. Vermont
Total laboratory aide jobs: 213 Average annual salary: $33,944 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
8. New York
Total laboratory aide jobs: 4,110 Average annual salary: $33,623 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
9. Washington
Total laboratory aide jobs: 1,629 Average annual salary: $35,514 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
10. Montana
Total laboratory aide jobs: 328 Average annual salary: $31,596 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
Laboratory aide jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a laboratory aide
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a laboratory aide
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $40,396 | $35,000 | 739,795 | 214 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $37,183 | $27,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,114 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $35,226 | $27,000 | 1,342,795 | 448 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $34,509 | $24,000 | 1,815,857 | 384 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $36,495 | $28,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,226 |
| 6 | Maine | $32,989 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 424 |
| 7 | Vermont | $33,944 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 213 |
| 8 | New York | $33,623 | $25,000 | 19,849,399 | 4,110 |
| 9 | Washington | $35,514 | $27,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,629 |
| 10 | Montana | $31,596 | $24,000 | 1,050,493 | 328 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $33,610 | $25,000 | 1,059,639 | 266 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $31,601 | $23,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,307 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $32,172 | $24,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,553 |
| 14 | Ohio | $30,236 | $22,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,417 |
| 15 | Oregon | $32,558 | $24,000 | 4,142,776 | 905 |
| 16 | Iowa | $29,511 | $21,000 | 3,145,711 | 1,031 |
| 17 | Delaware | $33,761 | $24,000 | 961,939 | 226 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $29,980 | $22,000 | 755,393 | 214 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $30,635 | $22,000 | 1,920,076 | 470 |
| 20 | Michigan | $28,243 | $21,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,427 |
| 21 | Maryland | $32,885 | $24,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,279 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $28,268 | $20,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,067 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $35,695 | $26,000 | 693,972 | 170 |
| 24 | Illinois | $30,118 | $22,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,596 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $31,427 | $23,000 | 3,588,184 | 677 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $28,005 | $20,000 | 869,666 | 254 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $29,569 | $21,000 | 3,004,279 | 509 |
| 28 | Indiana | $26,300 | $19,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,929 |
| 29 | Nevada | $29,614 | $22,000 | 2,998,039 | 398 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $33,840 | $30,000 | 1,427,538 | 159 |
| 31 | Florida | $27,443 | $20,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,928 |
| 32 | Kansas | $26,919 | $19,000 | 2,913,123 | 763 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $28,359 | $20,000 | 4,684,333 | 634 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $26,951 | $19,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,197 |
| 35 | Idaho | $27,088 | $20,000 | 1,716,943 | 372 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $25,233 | $18,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,449 |
| 37 | California | $29,533 | $22,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,771 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $24,195 | $17,000 | 4,454,189 | 919 |
| 39 | Georgia | $26,532 | $19,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,055 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $26,822 | $19,000 | 579,315 | 109 |
| 41 | Arizona | $25,881 | $19,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,278 |
| 42 | Virginia | $27,785 | $20,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,579 |
| 43 | Colorado | $25,963 | $19,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,155 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $22,429 | $16,000 | 5,024,369 | 1,028 |
| 45 | Missouri | $25,207 | $18,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,103 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $23,890 | $17,000 | 2,984,100 | 417 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $22,950 | $16,000 | 2,088,070 | 409 |
| 48 | Texas | $22,915 | $16,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,194 |
| 49 | Utah | $23,143 | $17,000 | 3,101,833 | 553 |
| 50 | Alabama | $22,213 | $16,000 | 4,874,747 | 805 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $21,799 | $15,000 | 3,930,864 | 605 |
Highest paying states for laboratory aides
| Rank | State | Avg. Laboratory Aide Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $40,396 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $37,183 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $35,226 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $34,509 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $36,495 |
| 6 | Maine | $32,989 |
| 7 | Vermont | $33,944 |
| 8 | New York | $33,623 |
| 9 | Washington | $35,514 |
| 10 | Montana | $31,596 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $33,610 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $31,601 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $32,172 |
| 14 | Ohio | $30,236 |
| 15 | Oregon | $32,558 |
| 16 | Iowa | $29,511 |
| 17 | Delaware | $33,761 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $29,980 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $30,635 |
| 20 | Michigan | $28,243 |
| 21 | Maryland | $32,885 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $28,268 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $35,695 |
| 24 | Illinois | $30,118 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $31,427 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $28,005 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $29,569 |
| 28 | Indiana | $26,300 |
| 29 | Nevada | $29,614 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $33,840 |
| 31 | Florida | $27,443 |
| 32 | Kansas | $26,919 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $28,359 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $26,951 |
| 35 | Idaho | $27,088 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $25,233 |
| 37 | California | $29,533 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $24,195 |
| 39 | Georgia | $26,532 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $26,822 |
| 41 | Arizona | $25,881 |
| 42 | Virginia | $27,785 |
| 43 | Colorado | $25,963 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $22,429 |
| 45 | Missouri | $25,207 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $23,890 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $22,950 |
| 48 | Texas | $22,915 |
| 49 | Utah | $23,143 |
| 50 | Alabama | $22,213 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $21,799 |
Expert opinions on the best states for laboratory aides
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for laboratory aides to find work opportunities?
Dr. Stacy Walz Ph.D
Department Chair, Assistant Dean for Special Projects, College of Nursing & Health Professions, Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
This all depends on what a graduate is looking for: urban vs. rural, fast-paced vs. slower-paced, larger facility vs. smaller facility, 24/7/365 vs. M-F 8-5, etc. There is something available for everyone in this country right now in the field of CLS.
Laboratory aide best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.
Search for laboratory aide jobs
Updated January 8, 2025