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.
Laboratory Analyst Overview
Laboratory Analyst Careers
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 $22.86 an hour? That's $47,558 a year!
Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 9% and produce 3,200 job opportunities across the U.S.
What Does a Laboratory Analyst Do
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.
When it comes to the most important skills required to be a laboratory analyst, we found that a lot of resumes listed 7.9% of laboratory analysts included test methods, while 6.6% of resumes included lab equipment, and 6.2% of resumes included sample preparation. Hard skills like these are helpful to have when it comes to performing essential job responsibilities.
When it comes to searching for a job, many search for a key term or phrase. Instead, it might be more helpful to search by industry, as you might be missing jobs that you never thought about in industries that you didn't even think offered positions related to the laboratory analyst job title. But what industry to start with? Most laboratory analysts actually find jobs in the manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries.
How To Become a Laboratory Analyst
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 64.8% of laboratory analysts have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 17.5% 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 master's degree degrees. Other degrees that we often see on laboratory analyst resumes include associate 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.
What is the right job for my career path?
Tell us your goals and we'll match you with the right jobs to get there.
Laboratory Analyst Career Paths
As you move along in your career, you may start taking on more responsibilities or notice that you've taken on a leadership role. Using our career map, a laboratory analyst can determine their career goals through the career progression. For example, they could start out with a role such as chemist, progress to a title such as scientist and then eventually end up with the title senior scientist.
What is the right job for my career path?
Tell us your goals and we'll match you with the rights job to get there.
Average Salary for a Laboratory Analyst
Best Paying Cities
Recently Added Salaries
Job TitleCompany  | Company | Start Date | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
City of San Mateo, Ca Laboratory Analyst I-II (20074918) Laboratory Analyst I-II (20074918) | City of San Mateo, Ca City of San Mateo, Ca | 01/22/2021 01/22/2021 | $81,54001/22/2021 $81,540 |
Aerotek Lab Analyst Lab Analyst | Aerotek Aerotek | 01/16/2021 01/16/2021 | $32,34901/16/2021 $32,349 |
Kelly Services Lab Analyst-Microbiology Lab Analyst-Microbiology | Kelly Services Kelly Services | 01/15/2021 01/15/2021 | $37,56601/15/2021 $37,566 |
Kelly Services Lab Analyst Lab Analyst | Kelly Services Kelly Services | 12/24/2020 12/24/2020 | $35,47912/24/2020 $35,479 |
Remedy Intelligent Staffing Utility-Training Lab Analyst-1St. Shift Utility-Training Lab Analyst-1St. Shift | Remedy Intelligent Staffing Remedy Intelligent Staffing | 12/16/2020 12/16/2020 | $39,65312/16/2020 $39,653 |
Calculate your salary
Use Zippia's Salary Calculator to see how your pay matches up.
Laboratory Analyst Resumes
Designing and figuring out what to include on your resume can be tough, not to mention time-consuming. That's why we put together a guide that is designed to help you craft the perfect resume for becoming a Laboratory Analyst. If you're needing extra inspiration, take a look through our selection of templates that are specific to your job.
Learn How To Write a Laboratory Analyst Resume
At Zippia, we went through countless Laboratory Analyst resumes and compiled some information about how best to optimize them. Here are some suggestions based on what we found, divided by the individual sections of the resume itself.
View Detailed InformationTop Colleges for Laboratory Analysts
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
2. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Public
5. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
6. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Public
7. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
8. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
9. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
10. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Top Skills For a Laboratory Analyst
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 7.9% of laboratory analysts listed test methods on their resume, but soft skills such as analytical skills and communication skills are important as well.
- Test Methods, 7.9%
- Lab Equipment, 6.6%
- Sample Preparation, 6.2%
- Diagnostic Tests, 5.6%
- Lims, 5.0%
- Other Skills, 68.7% See All Laboratory Analyst Skills
Best States For a Laboratory Analyst
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a laboratory analyst. The best states for people in this position are Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Laboratory analysts make the most in Rhode Island with an average salary of $62,538. Whereas in Connecticut and Massachusetts, they would average $61,915 and $61,867, respectively. While laboratory analysts would only make an average of $60,550 in New Hampshire, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
1. Massachusetts
$61,867
Avg. Salary
2. New Hampshire
$60,550
Avg. Salary
3. Connecticut
$61,915
Avg. Salary
How Do Laboratory Analyst Rate Their Jobs?
Top Laboratory Analyst Employers
Laboratory Analyst Videos
