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Best states for a laboratory specialist
Quoted expert
Dr. Rainer Glaser
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It seems like laboratory specialists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for laboratory specialists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research found that Massachusetts is the best state for laboratory specialists, while Hawaii and Alaska are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Massachusetts has a median salary of $62,191 and Hawaii has the highest median salary among all 50 states for laboratory specialists.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for laboratory specialists. Massachusetts is the best state for laboratory specialists, where the median salary is $62,191.If you are currently seeking employment as a laboratory specialist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for laboratory specialists in 2026
1. Massachusetts
Total laboratory specialist jobs: 2,052 Average annual salary: $62,191 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
2. New Hampshire
Total laboratory specialist jobs: 452 Average annual salary: $56,253 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
3. Nevada
Total laboratory specialist jobs: 426 Average annual salary: $60,743 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
4. New Jersey
Total laboratory specialist jobs: 1,728 Average annual salary: $61,178 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
5. Arizona
Total laboratory specialist jobs: 1,273 Average annual salary: $56,682 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
6. Alaska
Total laboratory specialist jobs: 174 Average annual salary: $64,920 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
7. New York
Total laboratory specialist jobs: 3,405 Average annual salary: $58,549 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
8. Vermont
Total laboratory specialist jobs: 205 Average annual salary: $55,073 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
9. Maine
Total laboratory specialist jobs: 358 Average annual salary: $53,560 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
10. Oregon
Total laboratory specialist jobs: 732 Average annual salary: $61,099 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
Laboratory specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a laboratory specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a laboratory specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $62,191 | $42,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,052 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $56,253 | $38,000 | 1,342,795 | 452 |
| 3 | Nevada | $60,743 | $43,000 | 2,998,039 | 426 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $61,178 | $41,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,728 |
| 5 | Arizona | $56,682 | $40,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,273 |
| 6 | Alaska | $64,920 | $55,000 | 739,795 | 174 |
| 7 | New York | $58,549 | $39,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,405 |
| 8 | Vermont | $55,073 | $37,000 | 623,657 | 205 |
| 9 | Maine | $53,560 | $36,000 | 1,335,907 | 358 |
| 10 | Oregon | $61,099 | $44,000 | 4,142,776 | 732 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $59,465 | $40,000 | 3,588,184 | 633 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $65,347 | $56,000 | 1,427,538 | 179 |
| 13 | Ohio | $51,558 | $35,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,126 |
| 14 | Washington | $58,871 | $43,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,285 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $50,150 | $34,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,286 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $51,455 | $37,000 | 579,315 | 116 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $52,643 | $35,000 | 1,059,639 | 229 |
| 18 | Michigan | $48,877 | $33,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,874 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $50,276 | $35,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,077 |
| 20 | Montana | $52,078 | $38,000 | 1,050,493 | 213 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $49,116 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 184 |
| 22 | Idaho | $51,727 | $38,000 | 1,716,943 | 293 |
| 23 | Delaware | $52,883 | $35,000 | 961,939 | 220 |
| 24 | California | $57,305 | $41,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,657 |
| 25 | Alabama | $49,776 | $33,000 | 4,874,747 | 764 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $50,183 | $35,000 | 2,088,070 | 335 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $45,502 | $31,000 | 1,815,857 | 313 |
| 28 | Colorado | $53,313 | $38,000 | 5,607,154 | 962 |
| 29 | Maryland | $51,724 | $34,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,210 |
| 30 | Iowa | $45,744 | $32,000 | 3,145,711 | 912 |
| 31 | Texas | $48,432 | $33,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,713 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $43,850 | $31,000 | 869,666 | 247 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $45,627 | $30,000 | 4,684,333 | 678 |
| 34 | Utah | $48,377 | $35,000 | 3,101,833 | 517 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $52,846 | $35,000 | 693,972 | 174 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $47,477 | $33,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,234 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $44,265 | $29,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,530 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $47,196 | $33,000 | 1,920,076 | 368 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $46,064 | $31,000 | 3,004,279 | 441 |
| 40 | Kansas | $45,367 | $31,000 | 2,913,123 | 562 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $43,824 | $29,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,927 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $44,221 | $30,000 | 4,454,189 | 658 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $44,583 | $30,000 | 2,984,100 | 373 |
| 44 | Florida | $38,709 | $25,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,997 |
| 45 | Georgia | $44,482 | $30,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,811 |
| 46 | Indiana | $39,456 | $27,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,380 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $38,442 | $25,000 | 5,024,369 | 900 |
| 48 | Missouri | $42,191 | $29,000 | 6,113,532 | 992 |
| 49 | Virginia | $44,165 | $29,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,452 |
| 50 | Illinois | $39,840 | $27,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,156 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $40,745 | $28,000 | 3,930,864 | 525 |
Highest paying states for laboratory specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Laboratory Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $62,191 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $56,253 |
| 3 | Nevada | $60,743 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $61,178 |
| 5 | Arizona | $56,682 |
| 6 | Alaska | $64,920 |
| 7 | New York | $58,549 |
| 8 | Vermont | $55,073 |
| 9 | Maine | $53,560 |
| 10 | Oregon | $61,099 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $59,465 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $65,347 |
| 13 | Ohio | $51,558 |
| 14 | Washington | $58,871 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $50,150 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $51,455 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $52,643 |
| 18 | Michigan | $48,877 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $50,276 |
| 20 | Montana | $52,078 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $49,116 |
| 22 | Idaho | $51,727 |
| 23 | Delaware | $52,883 |
| 24 | California | $57,305 |
| 25 | Alabama | $49,776 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $50,183 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $45,502 |
| 28 | Colorado | $53,313 |
| 29 | Maryland | $51,724 |
| 30 | Iowa | $45,744 |
| 31 | Texas | $48,432 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $43,850 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $45,627 |
| 34 | Utah | $48,377 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $52,846 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $47,477 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $44,265 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $47,196 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $46,064 |
| 40 | Kansas | $45,367 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $43,824 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $44,221 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $44,583 |
| 44 | Florida | $38,709 |
| 45 | Georgia | $44,482 |
| 46 | Indiana | $39,456 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $38,442 |
| 48 | Missouri | $42,191 |
| 49 | Virginia | $44,165 |
| 50 | Illinois | $39,840 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $40,745 |
Expert opinions on the best states for laboratory specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for laboratory specialists 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 specialist best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025