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How to hire a laboratory coordinator

Laboratory coordinator hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring laboratory coordinators in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a laboratory coordinator is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new laboratory coordinator to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a laboratory coordinator, step by step

To hire a laboratory coordinator, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a laboratory coordinator:

Here's a step-by-step laboratory coordinator hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a laboratory coordinator job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new laboratory coordinator
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a laboratory coordinator do?

A laboratory coordinator is responsible for supporting laboratory examinations and experiments, collecting laboratory samples, and ensuring the efficiency and performance of laboratory tools and equipment. Laboratory coordinators maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the laboratory facility at all times to avoid contaminations and hazards that may affect laboratory results and accuracy of examinations. They also perform scientific processes under the supervision of a scientist or laboratory technicians and keep an organized report of findings in the database.

Learn more about the specifics of what a laboratory coordinator does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The laboratory coordinator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a laboratory coordinator to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a laboratory coordinator that fits the bill.

    This list shows salaries for various types of laboratory coordinators.

    Type of Laboratory CoordinatorDescriptionHourly rate
    Laboratory CoordinatorMedical laboratory technologists (commonly known as medical laboratory scientists) and medical laboratory technicians collect samples and perform tests to analyze body fluids, tissue, and other substances.$18-34
    Medical Technologist, GeneralistA Medical Technologist Generalist performs day-to-day operations in the laboratory such as routine testing, quality control, and maintenance of instruments. They also develop, perform, and evaluate the accuracy of laboratory procedures.$20-37
    Medical TechnologistA medical technologist's role is to conduct laboratory tests with accuracy and speed. It is their responsibility to gather, prepare, and analyze samples such as blood, tissues, and bodily fluid... Show more$19-32
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Lab Equipment
    • Patients
    • Patient Care
    • Chemistry
    • Laboratory Safety
    • CLIA
    • Lab Procedures
    • Equipment Maintenance
    • Proficiency Testing
    • OSHA
    • Phlebotomy
    • Troubleshoot
    • Test Results
    • Data Entry
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Lead a team to decide on an optimal LIS.
    • Manage curriculum development, authore and publish lab manuals in physiology and ecology.
    • Prepare and audit patient charts according to HIPAA compliance.
    • Reject patient specimen samples that do not meet CLIA requirements.
    • Maintain records and training for all CLIA waive testing for all practice employees.
    • Follow EPA and OSHA mandates to ensure the proper and safe disposal of hazardous samples and waste.
    More laboratory coordinator duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your laboratory coordinator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A laboratory coordinator salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, laboratory coordinators' average salary in south carolina is 38% less than in hawaii.
    • Seniority. Entry-level laboratory coordinators earn 47% less than senior-level laboratory coordinators.
    • Certifications. A laboratory coordinator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a laboratory coordinator's salary.

    Average laboratory coordinator salary

    $52,690yearly

    $25.33 hourly rate

    Entry-level laboratory coordinator salary
    $38,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 20, 2025

    Average laboratory coordinator salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Massachusetts$67,410$32
    2Alaska$66,398$32
    3Oregon$64,591$31
    4Connecticut$64,413$31
    5Nevada$62,625$30
    6California$62,231$30
    7New York$60,466$29
    8Delaware$58,185$28
    9Virginia$57,181$27
    10Pennsylvania$57,082$27
    11Ohio$56,684$27
    12Illinois$54,827$26
    13Washington$54,683$26
    14Indiana$54,217$26
    15North Carolina$53,524$26
    16Florida$53,272$26
    17Wisconsin$52,846$25
    18Michigan$52,567$25
    19Texas$52,386$25
    20Minnesota$49,377$24

    Average laboratory coordinator salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1AbbVie$67,652$32.5224
    2Sutter Health$67,622$32.5184
    3Tenet Healthcare$67,601$32.50186
    4NCH Healthcare System$65,474$31.4811
    5Baptist Health Care$63,971$30.764
    6University of California$63,628$30.5937
    7Daltile$63,563$30.562
    8Dignity Health$63,472$30.52113
    9Massachusetts Institute of Technology$63,373$30.471
    10Columbia University in the City of New York$62,542$30.0712
    11University of California-Berkeley$61,913$29.77
    12Moffitt Cancer Center$61,753$29.697
    13Colgate-Palmolive$61,646$29.642
    14Seres Therapeutics$61,467$29.55
    15Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego$61,310$29.48
    16Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai$61,122$29.39
    17Baptist Health$61,049$29.3512
    18Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems$60,898$29.28
    19Baptist Health Home Care$60,668$29.1715
    20Brigham and Women's Hospital$60,570$29.1238
  4. Writing a laboratory coordinator job description

    A laboratory coordinator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a laboratory coordinator job description:

    Laboratory coordinator job description example

    Antech Diagnostics, the largest exclusively commercial veterinary diagnostic laboratory in the nation, is in search of a Lab Coordinator working out of our Oak Brook laboratory and reporting directly to the Lab Coordinator Manager.

    As part of the VCA Family, which operates the largest network of freestanding, full-service animal hospitals in the nation, Antech Diagnostics delivers state of the art testing and consulting services to practicing veterinarians. Our diagnostic spectrum of tests in the areas of chemistry, pathology, endocrinology, serology, hematology, and microbiology enhance veterinarians' ability to detect, diagnose, evaluate and prevent disease and other conditions affecting animals.

    Antech Diagnostics is looking for great Lab Coordinators that can provide superior customer service and support to our clientele. Candidates must possess excellent phone skills, project a pleasant tone regardless of the nature of the call, as well as exhibit empathy towards our consumer base. The ideal candidate is someone who is always looking to go above and beyond general job expectations in an attempt to provide our customers with the best possible service experience. This is an ideal position for someone who is looking to use their veterinary/medical knowledge without the physical demands of being a veterinary technician.
    + Acts as customer relations interface between customers and the reference laboratories.

    + Answering customer questions, investigating and resolving issues, engaging other Company resources as appropriate, such as providing lab test results, coordinating follow-up tests on samples, clarifying test results, and other issues.

    + Proactively handle problem cases, including but not limited to missing samples, delays, and incorrect reporting.

    + Researches questions and ensures ongoing customer satisfaction.

    + High School Diploma or equivalent

    + Minimum 1-2 years customer service, veterinary, medical and/or laboratory experience

    + Minimum 1-2 years experience as a veterinary technician, laboratory technician or medical assistant preferred

    + Organized with ability to multi-task in a fast paced environment

    + Strong interpersonal, organizational, negotiation and problem solving skills

    + Excellent verbal and written communication skills

    + Flexibility with work schedule

    + Proficient with Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)

    We are a rapidly growing, stable company with excellent advancement opportunity. Medical, dental and vision benefits, plus 401(k) plan and employee pet health benefits available, too!

    If you are passionate about animal healthcare, are motivated by making a difference we want to hear from you!

    ID: 2021-5277

    External Company URL: www.antechdiagnostics.com

    Street: 2601 West 22nd St
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right laboratory coordinator for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    To find laboratory coordinator candidates, you can consider the following options:
    • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
    • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
    • Post your job on free job posting websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit laboratory coordinators, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new laboratory coordinator

    Once you have selected a candidate for the laboratory coordinator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new laboratory coordinator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a laboratory coordinator?

Recruiting laboratory coordinators involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $52,690 per year for a laboratory coordinator, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for laboratory coordinators in the US typically range between $18 and $34 an hour.

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