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Laboratory technician salary
Average laboratory technician salary
$40,038
Understanding Laboratory Technician Salaries
The average laboratory technician salary is currently estimated at $40,038 per year. This figure represents a broad average and reflects varying conditions across different states and sectors. For instance, laboratory technicians working in research facilities or specialized medical labs often see higher salaries compared to those in educational institutions.
State-by-State Salary Insights
Geographic location significantly affects salary potential. States like California and New York typically offer higher wages due to increased demand and cost of living. In contrast, technicians in states with lower living costs may earn less but enjoy a comparable quality of life. Exploring these variables can help job seekers make informed decisions.
Experience Matters
As with many professions, experience plays a crucial role in determining salary levels. Entry-level positions may start around $30,000, while seasoned professionals can earn upwards of $50,000, particularly in specialized or supervisory roles. Continual education and certifications also contribute to salary growth.
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Where can a Laboratory Technician earn more?
Laboratory technician salary estimates from across the web
Average laboratory technician salary by state
The average laboratory technician salary in Alaska, Hawaii, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average laboratory technician salary states are Mississippi, Idaho, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for laboratory technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $98,434 | $47.32 |
| 2 | New York | $50,010 | $24.04 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $46,201 | $22.21 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $45,684 | $21.96 |
| 5 | Michigan | $41,359 | $19.88 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $43,144 | $20.74 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $44,164 | $21.23 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $44,906 | $21.59 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $51,281 | $24.65 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $42,271 | $20.32 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $41,178 | $19.80 |
| 12 | Illinois | $42,599 | $20.48 |
| 13 | Delaware | $45,663 | $21.95 |
| 14 | Vermont | $40,939 | $19.68 |
| 15 | Maryland | $44,239 | $21.27 |
| 16 | Ohio | $41,217 | $19.82 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $38,742 | $18.63 |
| 18 | Maine | $39,225 | $18.86 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $39,791 | $19.13 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $41,020 | $19.72 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $42,094 | $20.24 |
| 22 | Indiana | $38,648 | $18.58 |
| 23 | Iowa | $38,010 | $18.27 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $36,987 | $17.78 |
| 25 | Montana | $39,568 | $19.02 |
| 26 | Washington | $41,338 | $19.87 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $37,471 | $18.01 |
| 28 | California | $42,993 | $20.67 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $45,803 | $22.02 |
| 30 | Virginia | $42,347 | $20.36 |
| 31 | Arizona | $36,911 | $17.75 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $36,940 | $17.76 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $38,472 | $18.50 |
| 34 | Oregon | $40,457 | $19.45 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $37,386 | $17.97 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $39,086 | $18.79 |
| 37 | Nevada | $36,641 | $17.62 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $38,127 | $18.33 |
| 39 | Florida | $34,531 | $16.60 |
| 40 | Missouri | $35,906 | $17.26 |
| 41 | Kansas | $35,294 | $16.97 |
| 42 | Texas | $36,633 | $17.61 |
| 43 | Colorado | $36,958 | $17.77 |
| 44 | Georgia | $36,077 | $17.34 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $34,910 | $16.78 |
| 46 | Utah | $36,266 | $17.44 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $34,899 | $16.78 |
| 48 | Alabama | $34,479 | $16.58 |
| 49 | Idaho | $34,697 | $16.68 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $31,871 | $15.32 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $33,163 | $15.94 |
Highest paying cities for laboratory technicians
The highest-paying cities for laboratory technicians are New York, NY, Boston, MA, and Richmond, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $50,208 | $24.14 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $46,160 | $22.19 |
| 3 | Richmond, CA | $45,492 | $21.87 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $44,362 | $21.33 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $43,356 | $20.84 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $42,863 | $20.61 |
| 7 | Saint Paul, MN | $42,297 | $20.34 |
| 8 | Richmond, VA | $42,172 | $20.27 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $42,106 | $20.24 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $41,674 | $20.04 |
| 11 | Ann Arbor, MI | $41,332 | $19.87 |
| 12 | Madison, WI | $40,917 | $19.67 |
| 13 | Portland, OR | $40,472 | $19.46 |
| 14 | Portland, ME | $39,419 | $18.95 |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $39,156 | $18.82 |
| 16 | Richmond, IN | $39,051 | $18.77 |
| 17 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $38,511 | $18.51 |
| 18 | Lincoln, NE | $38,222 | $18.38 |
| 19 | San Antonio, TX | $37,273 | $17.92 |
| 20 | Richmond, KY | $37,186 | $17.88 |
Laboratory Technicians are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Laboratory technician salary details
A laboratory technician's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $58,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a laboratory technician's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| 75th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| Average | $40,038 | $3,337 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying laboratory technician jobs
The highest paying types of laboratory technicians are laboratory supervisor, dental laboratory technician, and lead laboratory technician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Technician | $42,584 | $3,549 | $20.47 | 40,191 |
| Laboratory Coordinator | $52,690 | $4,391 | $25.33 | 64,914 |
| Laboratory Supervisor | $67,361 | $5,613 | $32.39 | 49,957 |
| Quality Control Technician | $40,337 | $3,361 | $19.39 | 98,407 |
| Technician | $38,045 | $3,170 | $18.29 | 596,842 |
| Dialysis Technician | $40,195 | $3,350 | $19.32 | 100,653 |
Top companies hiring laboratory technicians now:
Which companies pay laboratory technicians the most?
Laboratory technician salaries at Tenaska and Qorvo are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average laboratory technician salary at companies like Maxim Integrated and AbbVie are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 5 | Zoetis | $70,897 | $34.09 |
| 6 | Boehringer Ingelheim | $70,523 | $33.91 |
| 7 | Merck | $70,306 | $33.80 |
| 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 |
| 12 | Sutter Health | $68,789 | $33.07 |
| 13 | Apple | $67,978 | $32.68 |
| 14 | Columbus College of Art & Design | $67,618 | $32.51 |
| 15 | Reckitt Benckiser | $66,919 | $32.17 |
| 16 | L'Oréal | $66,082 | $31.77 |
| 17 | Valero Energy | $65,528 | $31.50 |
| 18 | Koppers | $64,918 | $31.21 |
| 19 | Marathon Petroleum | $64,434 | $30.98 |
| 20 | OMNOVA Solutions | $64,267 | $30.90 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Laboratory technician salary trends
The average laboratory technician salary has risen by $4,445 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average laboratory technician earned $35,593 annually, but today, they earn $40,038 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for laboratory technicians over the last decade.
Compare laboratory technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average laboratory technician salary over time
Compare laboratory technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Laboratory technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $40,000 | $19.25 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $39,000 | $18.73 | -0.7% |
| 2023 | $39,200 | $18.86 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $38,300 | $18.39 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $37,500 | $18.04 | -0.1% |
Recently added laboratory technician salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles River Laboratories | Laboratory Technician 1 | Reno, NV | 06/30/2025 | $39,653 |
| Charles River Laboratories | Laboratory Technician-MDX (2ND Shift) | Wilmington, MA | 06/30/2025 | $45,914 |
| Clean Harbors | Laboratory Technician I | Cheyenne, WY | 06/30/2025 | $46,958 |
| Clean Harbors | Laboratory Technician I | Sidney, NE | 06/30/2025 | $46,958 |
| Clean Harbors | Laboratory Technician I | Sterling, CO | 06/30/2025 | $46,958 |
| Exact Sciences | LDT Laboratory Technician | Marshfield, WI | 06/30/2025 | $38,000 |
| Sanford Health | Cath Lab Tech (Rcis)-Days | Sanford Health | Bismarck, ND | 06/30/2025 | $57,393 |
| Sutterhealth | Cardiac Cath Lab Technologist | Sacramento, CA | 06/30/2025 | $130,834 |
| University of Central Florida | Laboratory Technician I | Orlando, FL | 06/30/2025 | $32,682 |
| Dartmouth College | Laboratory Technician II | Hanover, NH | 06/30/2025 | $37,566 |
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