How to hire a laboratory technician

How to hire a laboratory technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step laboratory technician 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 technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new laboratory technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a laboratory technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your laboratory technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a laboratory technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

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   Hiring the perfect laboratory technician also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of laboratory technician salaries for various roles:

   Type of Laboratory Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Laboratory Technician	Medical 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.	$12-27
   Chemical Technician	A chemical technician is responsible for supporting chemists and laboratory technicians in performing laboratory investigations and examining chemical components and structures. Chemical technicians ensure the stability of laboratory tools and equipment, performing proper sterilization and segregation of disposable materials, and maintaining the adequacy of inventory... Show more	$14-27
   Laboratory Coordinator	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... Show more	$18-34

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Lab Equipment
   • Customer Service
   • Basic Math
   • Test Results
   • Math
   • OSHA
   • Dexterity
   • Data Entry
   • Ct Scan
   • Phlebotomy
   • Lab Procedures
   • Microbiology
   • AA

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead aerobic, anaerobic and UV light testing, chemical residue testing and centrifuge to separate chemicals from water.
   • Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
   • Analyze and paid attention to detail as well as demonstrated excellent organization skills, manual dexterity and good eyesight.
   • Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate with EKG equipment and notify physician is something appears to be wrong.
   • Monitor several color formulations being manufacture in the production department to ensure manufacturing procedures are follow per ISO and GMP.
   • Perform age appropriate phlebotomy while working with critically or terminally ill patients, with careful respect for individual and/or cultural concerns.

   More laboratory technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your laboratory technician job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A laboratory technician salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a laboratory technician in Mississippi may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level laboratory technician usually earns less than a senior-level laboratory technician. Additionally, a laboratory technician with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average laboratory technician salary

   $40,038yearly

   $19.25 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level laboratory technician salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

   Average laboratory technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$50,208	$24
   2	Massachusetts	$46,160	$22
   3	California	$45,492	$22
   4	Maryland	$44,362	$21
   5	Pennsylvania	$43,356	$21
   6	Illinois	$42,863	$21
   7	Minnesota	$42,297	$20
   8	Virginia	$42,172	$20
   9	Ohio	$42,106	$20
   10	Washington	$41,674	$20
   11	Michigan	$41,332	$20
   12	Wisconsin	$40,917	$20
   13	Oregon	$40,472	$19
   14	Maine	$39,419	$19
   15	North Carolina	$39,156	$19
   16	Indiana	$39,051	$19
   17	Iowa	$38,511	$19
   18	Nebraska	$38,222	$18
   19	Texas	$37,273	$18
   20	Kentucky	$37,186	$18

   Average laboratory technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Tenaska	$84,815	$40.78
   2	Qorvo	$83,288	$40.04
   3	Maxim Integrated	$76,949	$36.99
   4	AbbVie	$72,795	$35.00	23
   5	Zoetis	$70,897	$34.09	21
   6	Boehringer Ingelheim	$70,523	$33.91	5
   7	Merck	$70,306	$33.80	8
   8	A.T. Kearney	$69,734	$33.53
   9	Axalta	$69,561	$33.44
   10	NVIDIA	$69,470	$33.40
   11	AstraZeneca	$69,322	$33.33	3
   12	Sutter Health	$68,789	$33.07	116
   13	Apple	$67,978	$32.68	5
   14	Columbus College of Art & Design	$67,618	$32.51
   15	Reckitt Benckiser	$66,919	$32.17	1
   16	L'Oréal	$66,082	$31.77
   17	Valero Energy	$65,528	$31.50	1
   18	Koppers	$64,918	$31.21
   19	Marathon Petroleum	$64,434	$30.98
   20	OMNOVA Solutions	$64,267	$30.90

4. Writing a laboratory technician job description

   A good laboratory technician job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a laboratory technician job description:

   Laboratory technician job description example

   Ecolab is seeking a Lab Technician who will be responsible for analytical testing that will be used in the development of new product specifications. In this position you will perform quality testing, maintenance, and calibrations of the instruments in addition to assisting in the development of new test methods as needed.
   What's in it For You:
   The opportunity to take on some of the world's most meaningful challenges, helping customers achieve clean water, safe food, abundant energy and healthy environments The ability to make an impact and shape your career with a company that is passionate about growth The support of an organization that believes it is vital to include and engage diverse people, perspectives and ideas to achieve our best
   
   What You Will Do:
   Assist in maintaining the productivity and organization of a busy laboratory Following stablished Standard Operating Procedures and test methods including making recommends for their improvement Collect test materials and equipment to expedite test procedures Perform laboratory testing under the supervision of scientists and project leaders Providing accurate and timely test results for internal customers Record test results accurately and concisely in SAPAssist in analyzing and interpreting data including providing solutions Maintain clean and safe work facility
   
   Position Details:
   Plant location: Mississauga, ON
   Work week and shift: Monday to Friday from 5:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Will need to occasionally work from 2:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
   
   Minimum Qualifications:
   Bachelor of Science or an undergraduate degree in an applicable field Experience working in a lab environment Must work well with other team members Ability to multi-task and manage numerous projects simultaneouslyA high attention to detail and quality in results Proficient in Microsoft Office applications Knowledge of laboratory practices, scientific terminology, and the characterization and preparation of materials used in routine and special procedures Must be able to establish and meet deadlines to produce independent results, while building a network of resources in the company Knowledge and experience with SAP is an asset Proof of Covid -19 vaccinations will be required as a condition of employment Immigration sponsorship not available for this role
   
   #li-ca

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right laboratory technician for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with laboratory technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit laboratory technicians who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your laboratory technician job on Zippia to find and recruit laboratory technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting laboratory technicians requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to 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 technician

   Once you have selected a candidate for the laboratory technician 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new laboratory technician 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 technician?