A laboratory analyst, also known as a lab technologist, conducts experiments, runs lab tests, and analyzes the results. He/she uses specialized equipment to perform these tests, analyses, and experiments and then record observations and report results. Laboratory analysts are also responsible for maintaining and calibrating lab equipment, maintaining high safety standards in the lab, and adhering to policies in place.
A successful laboratory analyst must have profound knowledge and experience in the field as well as analytical skills, attention to detail, organizational skills, and communication skills. A laboratory analyst can find work in hospitals, pharmaceutical facilities, manufacturing companies, or government agencies.
Laboratory analysts work 40 hours a week and often in shifts. On rare occasions, they may be required to work over the weekends when urgent reports are needed.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a Laboratory Analyst. For example, did you know that they make an average of $21.52 an hour? That's $44,766 a year!
Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 9% and produce 3,200 job opportunities across the U.S.
There are certain skills that many Laboratory Analysts have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed Analytical skills, Communication skills and Ability to use technology.
If you're interested in becoming a Laboratory Analyst, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 79.1% of Laboratory Analysts have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 6.7% of Laboratory Analysts have master's degrees. Even though most Laboratory Analysts have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a Laboratory Analyst. When we researched the most common majors for a Laboratory Analyst, we found that they most commonly earn Bachelor's Degree degrees or Associate Degree degrees. Other degrees that we often see on Laboratory Analyst resumes include Master's Degree degrees or High School Diploma degrees.
You may find that experience in other jobs will help you become a Laboratory Analyst. In fact, many Laboratory Analyst jobs require experience in a role such as Laboratory Technician. Meanwhile, many Laboratory Analysts also have previous career experience in roles such as Research Assistant or Internship.