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Best states for a laboratory manager
Quoted expert
Dr. Rainer Glaser
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for laboratory managers in the United States. Laboratory manager positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for laboratory managers.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of laboratory managers in America is $111,000.
We figured that the best places for laboratory manager jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as a laboratory manager, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for laboratory managers in 2026
1. California
Total laboratory manager jobs: 2,635 Average annual salary: $99,018 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
2. Washington
Total laboratory manager jobs: 598 Average annual salary: $96,780 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
3. Alaska
Total laboratory manager jobs: 75 Average annual salary: $91,186 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
4. New Hampshire
Total laboratory manager jobs: 170 Average annual salary: $78,690 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
5. Nevada
Total laboratory manager jobs: 129 Average annual salary: $95,568 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
6. South Dakota
Total laboratory manager jobs: 128 Average annual salary: $73,653 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.7
7. Michigan
Total laboratory manager jobs: 509 Average annual salary: $81,171 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
8. Vermont
Total laboratory manager jobs: 77 Average annual salary: $75,807 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
9. Oregon
Total laboratory manager jobs: 256 Average annual salary: $88,983 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
10. New York
Total laboratory manager jobs: 1,041 Average annual salary: $80,302 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
Laboratory manager jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a laboratory manager
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a laboratory manager
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $99,018 | $60,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,635 |
| 2 | Washington | $96,780 | $60,000 | 7,405,743 | 598 |
| 3 | Alaska | $91,186 | $59,000 | 739,795 | 75 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $78,690 | $53,000 | 1,342,795 | 170 |
| 5 | Nevada | $95,568 | $57,000 | 2,998,039 | 129 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $73,653 | $48,000 | 869,666 | 128 |
| 7 | Michigan | $81,171 | $53,000 | 9,962,311 | 509 |
| 8 | Vermont | $75,807 | $51,000 | 623,657 | 77 |
| 9 | Oregon | $88,983 | $55,000 | 4,142,776 | 256 |
| 10 | New York | $80,302 | $53,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,041 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $85,667 | $56,000 | 9,005,644 | 548 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $113,688 | $92,000 | 1,427,538 | 47 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $76,177 | $51,000 | 6,859,819 | 786 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $78,568 | $52,000 | 3,588,184 | 242 |
| 15 | Idaho | $76,472 | $47,000 | 1,716,943 | 106 |
| 16 | Arkansas | $70,219 | $44,000 | 3,004,279 | 207 |
| 17 | Arizona | $70,323 | $42,000 | 7,016,270 | 552 |
| 18 | Indiana | $76,848 | $50,000 | 6,666,818 | 378 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $72,725 | $48,000 | 5,576,606 | 493 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $68,374 | $44,000 | 1,815,857 | 114 |
| 21 | Utah | $71,965 | $44,000 | 3,101,833 | 213 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $73,464 | $47,000 | 4,454,189 | 199 |
| 23 | Ohio | $67,895 | $44,000 | 11,658,609 | 695 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $66,004 | $43,000 | 12,805,537 | 860 |
| 25 | Maryland | $69,534 | $45,000 | 6,052,177 | 510 |
| 26 | Colorado | $70,671 | $45,000 | 5,607,154 | 349 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $66,909 | $41,000 | 2,088,070 | 123 |
| 28 | Illinois | $67,090 | $44,000 | 12,802,023 | 739 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $60,114 | $39,000 | 755,393 | 78 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | $69,775 | $46,000 | 1,059,639 | 53 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $65,752 | $41,000 | 10,273,419 | 555 |
| 32 | Iowa | $59,076 | $38,000 | 3,145,711 | 307 |
| 33 | Delaware | $65,825 | $43,000 | 961,939 | 74 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $64,542 | $42,000 | 1,920,076 | 128 |
| 35 | Maine | $61,229 | $41,000 | 1,335,907 | 92 |
| 36 | Montana | $61,487 | $39,000 | 1,050,493 | 77 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $58,135 | $38,000 | 5,795,483 | 456 |
| 38 | Texas | $62,034 | $38,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,153 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $69,656 | $45,000 | 693,972 | 77 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $57,969 | $37,000 | 579,315 | 42 |
| 41 | Florida | $59,215 | $36,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,254 |
| 42 | Virginia | $64,597 | $41,000 | 8,470,020 | 546 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $56,052 | $35,000 | 6,715,984 | 456 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $59,914 | $37,000 | 4,684,333 | 181 |
| 45 | Kansas | $57,274 | $37,000 | 2,913,123 | 195 |
| 46 | Georgia | $60,806 | $38,000 | 10,429,379 | 485 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $59,051 | $36,000 | 2,984,100 | 109 |
| 48 | Alabama | $56,313 | $35,000 | 4,874,747 | 264 |
| 49 | Missouri | $59,872 | $38,000 | 6,113,532 | 314 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $57,526 | $36,000 | 3,930,864 | 151 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $52,889 | $32,000 | 5,024,369 | 224 |
Highest paying states for laboratory managers
| Rank | State | Avg. Laboratory Manager Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $99,018 |
| 2 | Washington | $96,780 |
| 3 | Alaska | $91,186 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $78,690 |
| 5 | Nevada | $95,568 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $73,653 |
| 7 | Michigan | $81,171 |
| 8 | Vermont | $75,807 |
| 9 | Oregon | $88,983 |
| 10 | New York | $80,302 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $85,667 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $113,688 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $76,177 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $78,568 |
| 15 | Idaho | $76,472 |
| 16 | Arkansas | $70,219 |
| 17 | Arizona | $70,323 |
| 18 | Indiana | $76,848 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $72,725 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $68,374 |
| 21 | Utah | $71,965 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $73,464 |
| 23 | Ohio | $67,895 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $66,004 |
| 25 | Maryland | $69,534 |
| 26 | Colorado | $70,671 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $66,909 |
| 28 | Illinois | $67,090 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $60,114 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | $69,775 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $65,752 |
| 32 | Iowa | $59,076 |
| 33 | Delaware | $65,825 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $64,542 |
| 35 | Maine | $61,229 |
| 36 | Montana | $61,487 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $58,135 |
| 38 | Texas | $62,034 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $69,656 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $57,969 |
| 41 | Florida | $59,215 |
| 42 | Virginia | $64,597 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $56,052 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $59,914 |
| 45 | Kansas | $57,274 |
| 46 | Georgia | $60,806 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $59,051 |
| 48 | Alabama | $56,313 |
| 49 | Missouri | $59,872 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $57,526 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $52,889 |
Expert opinions on the best states for laboratory managers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for laboratory managers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Rainer Glaser
Professor and Chair, Missouri University of Science and Technology
There are a few classic hubs of "big commodities chemistry" and "big pharma", for example. Interestingly, the chemistry enterprise constantly spawns new specializations and keeps getting more de-centralized with excellent employment opportunities in every state.
Laboratory manager best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025