Laboratory assistant demographics and statistics in the US
Laboratory assistant demographics research summary. Zippia estimates laboratory assistant demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our laboratory assistant estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about laboratory assistants after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 203,896 laboratory assistants currently employed in the United States.
- 56.4% of all laboratory assistants are women, while 43.6% are men.
- The average laboratory assistant age is 44 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of laboratory assistants is White (53.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (17.0%), Asian (13.9%) and Black or African American (9.6%).
- Laboratory assistants are most in-demand in Los Angeles, CA.
- Boston, MA pays an annual average wage of $43,573, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women laboratory assistants earned 97% of what men earned.
- Massachusetts is the best state for laboratory assistants to live.
- Laboratory assistants are 74% more likely to work at education companies in comparison to private companies.
On this page
Laboratory assistant demographics by:
Laboratory assistant gender statistics
56.4% of laboratory assistants are women and 43.6% of laboratory assistants are men.
- Female, 56.4%
- Male, 43.6%
Laboratory assistant gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 56.4% |
| Male | 43.6% |
Laboratory assistant gender pay gap
Women earn 97¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$34,600
Female income
$33,701
Laboratory assistant gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in laboratory assistant positions over time. Currently, 56.4% of laboratory assistants are female.
Laboratory assistant gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 42.39% | 57.61% |
| 2011 | 40.15% | 59.85% |
| 2012 | 41.52% | 58.48% |
| 2013 | 39.99% | 60.01% |
| 2014 | 40.88% | 59.12% |
| 2015 | 41.19% | 58.81% |
| 2016 | 43.07% | 56.93% |
| 2017 | 41.96% | 58.04% |
| 2018 | 43.87% | 56.13% |
| 2019 | 45.79% | 54.21% |
| 2020 | 46.72% | 53.28% |
| 2021 | 43.58% | 56.42% |
Laboratory assistant related jobs gender ratio
We compared laboratory assistants with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, guitar technician and armorer technician have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Radiographer, Mammographer | 2% | 98% |
| Mammographer | 3% | 97% |
| Lead Mammographer | 3% | 97% |
| Laboratory Assistant | 44% | 56% |
| Driver/Technician | 93% | 7% |
| Armorer Technician | 95% | 5% |
| Guitar Technician | 96% | 4% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Laboratory assistant demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among laboratory assistants is White, which makes up 53.5% of all laboratory assistants. Comparatively, 17.0% of laboratory assistants are Hispanic or Latino and 13.9% of laboratory assistants are Asian.
- White, 53.5%
- Hispanic or Latino, 17.0%
- Asian, 13.9%
- Black or African American, 9.6%
- Unknown, 5.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
Laboratory assistant race
| Laboratory assistant race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 53.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.0% |
| Asian | 13.9% |
| Black or African American | 9.6% |
| Unknown | 5.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.9% |
Laboratory assistant race and ethnicity over time
See how laboratory assistant racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Laboratory assistant race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 60.92% | 9.72% | 13.43% | 13.28% |
| 2011 | 61.02% | 9.73% | 13.47% | 12.52% |
| 2012 | 60.07% | 10.49% | 13.32% | 13.45% |
| 2013 | 60.48% | 9.94% | 13.36% | 13.66% |
| 2014 | 60.50% | 10.32% | 13.18% | 13.30% |
| 2015 | 58.51% | 11.74% | 13.35% | 13.41% |
| 2016 | 59.49% | 10.67% | 13.18% | 13.78% |
| 2017 | 58.79% | 10.35% | 13.41% | 14.78% |
| 2018 | 58.69% | 10.65% | 12.53% | 14.85% |
| 2019 | 56.47% | 10.78% | 14.72% | 15.20% |
| 2020 | 55.01% | 10.84% | 14.01% | 15.06% |
| 2021 | 53.53% | 9.61% | 13.95% | 17.00% |
Laboratory assistant wage gap by race
According to our data, asian laboratory assistants have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american laboratory assistants have the lowest average salary at $33,261.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $34,248 |
| White | $34,778 |
| Black or African American | $33,261 |
| Asian | $36,218 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $34,560 |
Average laboratory assistant age
See how the average age of laboratory assistants varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Laboratory assistant age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 46 | 42 |
| Unknown | 35 | 39 |
| Asian | 43.5 | 45 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 38 | 38 |
| White | 41 | 48 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 44.5 |
Laboratory assistant age breakdown
The average age of laboratory assistants is 40+ years years old, representing 59% of the laboratory assistant population.
Laboratory assistant age breakdown
| Laboratory Assistant Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 59% |
| 30-40 years | 23% |
| 20-30 years | 18% |
Laboratory assistant educational attainment
The most common degree for laboratory assistants is bachelor's degree, with 64% of laboratory assistants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 16% and associate degree degree at 7%.
- Bachelor's, 64%
- Associate, 16%
- High School Diploma, 7%
- Master's, 5%
- Other Degrees, 8%
Laboratory assistants by degree level
| Laboratory assistant degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 64% |
| Associate | 16% |
| High School Diploma | 7% |
| Master's | 5% |
| Other Degrees | 8% |
Laboratory assistant jobs you might like
Laboratory assistant wage gap by degree level
According to the data, laboratory assistants with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $38,477 annually. With a Doctorate degree, laboratory assistants earn a median annual income of $38,052 compared to $37,408 for laboratory assistants with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $38,477 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $30,194 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $37,408 |
| Doctorate Degree | $38,052 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $33,790 |
Laboratory assistant employment statistics
Most laboratory assistants work for a education in the education industry.
Company size where laboratory assistants work
Below, you can see the size of companies where laboratory assistants work.
Laboratory assistant jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 3% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 7% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 11% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 11% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 50% |
| > 10,000 employees | 18% |
Laboratory assistant jobs by company type
Employees with the laboratory assistant job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most laboratory assistants prefer to work at education companies over private companies.
Laboratory assistant jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 74% |
| Public | 5% |
| Private | 19% |
| Government | 2% |
Laboratory assistant jobs by industry
The most common industries for laboratory assistants are education, health care and manufacturing.
Laboratory assistant industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 65% |
| Health Care | 18% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Fortune 500 | 3% |
| Professional | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Government | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Retail | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
Laboratory assistant turnover and employment statistics
Laboratory assistant unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for laboratory assistants between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Laboratory assistant unemployment rate by year
| Year | Laboratory assistant unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.81% |
| 2011 | 3.25% |
| 2012 | 3.60% |
| 2013 | 3.61% |
| 2014 | 2.96% |
| 2015 | 2.58% |
| 2016 | 2.17% |
| 2017 | 1.79% |
| 2018 | 1.99% |
| 2019 | 1.76% |
| 2020 | 1.93% |
| 2021 | 1.96% |
Average laboratory assistant tenure
The average laboratory assistant stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 68,905 laboratory assistants resumes in Zippia's database.
Laboratory assistant tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 38% |
| 1-2 years | 35% |
| 3-4 years | 10% |
| 5-7 years | 10% |
| 8-10 years | 3% |
| 11+ years | 4% |
Laboratory assistant LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of laboratory assistants that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Technician, Inventory Specialist | 5.02% | 65,659 |
| Dental Hygienist | 6.89% | 24,234 |
| Laboratory Assistant | 8.24% | - |
| Health Record Technician | 9.29% | 75,195 |
| Optical Technician | 12.53% | 29,866 |
| Obstetrics Technician | 12.80% | 55,214 |
| Senior Nuclear Medicine Technologist | 21.93% | 56,975 |
Similar laboratory assistant jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Technician, Inventory Specialist | 5.02% | 65,659 |
| Dental Hygienist | 6.89% | 24,234 |
| Health Record Technician | 9.29% | 75,195 |
| Optical Technician | 12.53% | 29,866 |
| Obstetrics Technician | 12.80% | 55,214 |
| Senior Nuclear Medicine Technologist | 21.93% | 56,975 |
Foreign languages spoken by laboratory assistants
The most common foreign language among laboratory assistants is Spanish at 43.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 10.6% and Chinese is the third-most popular at 8.1%.
- Spanish, 43.0%
- French, 10.6%
- Chinese, 8.1%
- Mandarin, 6.8%
- German, 4.5%
- Other, 27.0%
Laboratory assistant languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 43.0% |
| French | 10.6% |
| Chinese | 8.1% |
| Mandarin | 6.8% |
| German | 4.5% |
| Other | 27.0% |
