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Los Alamos National Laboratory salary estimate

$80,211yearly

$38.56 hourly rate

Entry-level salary
$53,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

Understanding Los Alamos National Laboratory Salaries

At Los Alamos National Laboratory, the average salary is around $80,211 per year. This figure reflects a commitment to fair compensation in various departments, including research, engineering, and administration. Notably, the highest-paying roles can be found in research and development, where specialized skills are highly valued.

Salary variations also exist by location, with certain positions in cities like Los Alamos commanding higher rates due to cost of living adjustments. Additionally, LANL offers benefits that support employee growth, including professional development and robust healthcare options. For those considering a career at LANL, understanding these factors can aid in making informed decisions about your future.

Highest paying jobs at Los Alamos National Laboratory

The highest paying jobs at Los Alamos National Laboratory are group leader, member, technical staff, architect, and project leader. Group leader jobs at Los Alamos National Laboratory earn an average yearly salary of $141,285, Los Alamos National Laboratory member, technical staff jobs average $133,187, and Los Alamos National Laboratory architect jobs average $127,833.

The lowest paying Los Alamos National Laboratory roles include student worker and administrative assistant. Los Alamos National Laboratory student worker average salary is $52,039 per year. So while the average Los Alamos National Laboratory salary is $80,211 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.

Highest paying jobs at Los Alamos National Laboratory

RankJob titleAverage Los Alamos National Laboratory salaryHourly rate
1Group Leader$141,285$67.93
2Member, Technical Staff$133,187$64.03
3Architect$127,833$61.46
4Project Leader$120,358$57.86
5Scientist$119,078$57.25
6Program Manager$108,753$52.29
7Industrial Hygienist$106,211$51.06
8Technical Project Manager$101,710$48.90
9Systems Engineer$100,367$48.25
10Systems Administrator$97,996$47.11
11Mechanical Engineer$97,577$46.91
12Health Physicist$96,210$46.25
13Business & Finance Analyst$95,722$46.02
14Software Developer$94,440$45.40
15Accelerator Operator$94,007$45.20
16Staff Technologist$88,429$42.51
17Security Specialist$83,795$40.29
18Engineering Technician$83,359$40.08
19PHD Researcher$76,563$36.81
20Hazardous Materials Analyst$75,825$36.45

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How much does Los Alamos National Laboratory pay by location?

The average Los Alamos National Laboratory salary varies by location. Los Alamos National Laboratory salaries are the highest in Carlsbad, CA, at $88,912 per year. Los Alamos National Laboratory pays the second highest average salary in Los Alamos, NM, at $77,757 per year. It's important to factor in the cost of living when negotiating a salary or choosing a place to work.

Highest paying Los Alamos National Laboratory locations

RankLocationAverage Los Alamos National Laboratory salaryHourly rate
1Carlsbad, CA$88,912$42.75
2Los Alamos, NM$77,757$37.38
3Las Vegas, NV$77,210$37.12

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Los Alamos National Laboratory salaries by department

Salaries at Los Alamos National Laboratory vary depending on the department you work in. Los Alamos National Laboratory salaries in the engineering department are the highest with an average salary of $96,681. Employees in the it department at Los Alamos National Laboratory receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $95,142 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at Los Alamos National Laboratory include the administrative and the healthcare organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $65,420 and $67,372, respectively.

Average Los Alamos National Laboratory salary by department

RankDepartmentAverage Los Alamos National Laboratory salaryHourly rate
1Engineering$96,681$46.48
2IT$95,142$45.74
3Finance$90,064$43.30
4Education$86,216$41.45
5Plant/Manufacturing$84,559$40.65
6Art/Design$80,680$38.79
7Research & Development$76,542$36.80
8Facilities$76,287$36.68
9Healthcare$67,373$32.39
10Administrative$65,420$31.45

How much does Los Alamos National Laboratory pay by department?

Best paying Los Alamos National Laboratory research & development salaries

RankPositionAverage Los Alamos National Laboratory salaryHourly rate
1Scientist$119,078$57.25
2Social Science Manager$106,634$51.27
3Process Chemist$102,957$49.50
4Statistician$98,909$47.55
5Health Physicist$96,210$46.25
6Metrologist$91,251$43.87
7Radiation Control Technician$86,247$41.46
8PHD Researcher$76,563$36.81
9Hazardous Materials Analyst$75,825$36.45
10Postdoctoral Research Associate$74,484$35.81
11Graduate Researcher$74,407$35.77
12Doctoral Fellow$74,291$35.72
13Hazardous Material Specialist$71,062$34.16
14Graduate Research Assistant$67,051$32.24
15Chemistry Technologist$64,810$31.16
16Laboratory Internship$63,665$30.61
17Science Technician$60,028$28.86

Best paying Los Alamos National Laboratory engineering salaries

RankPositionAverage Los Alamos National Laboratory salaryHourly rate
1Member, Technical Staff$133,187$64.03
2Project Leader$120,358$57.86
3Computer Systems Architect$118,303$56.88
4Release Manager$115,360$55.46
5Industrial Hygienist$106,211$51.06
6Computer System Specialist$103,754$49.88
7Technical Project Manager$101,710$48.90
8Web Designer$101,228$48.67
9Systems Engineer$100,367$48.25
10Programmer$99,345$47.76
11Remote Sensing Scientist$98,611$47.41
12Data Warehouse Developer$98,319$47.27
13Mechanical Engineer$97,577$46.91
14Software Developer$94,440$45.40
15Database Administrator$94,374$45.37
16Waste Management Specialist$87,557$42.09
17Safety Analyst$85,499$41.11
18Engineering Technician$83,359$40.08
19Mechanical Technician$67,838$32.61
20Fiber Technologist$67,439$32.42

Best paying Los Alamos National Laboratory administrative salaries

RankPositionAverage Los Alamos National Laboratory salaryHourly rate
1Project Administrator$83,947$40.36
2Scheduler$75,596$36.34
3Word Processor$72,675$34.94
4Student Internship$72,211$34.72
5Document Analyst$67,928$32.66
6Records Manager$66,556$32.00
7Staff Assistant$65,136$31.32
8Record Management Specialist$64,035$30.79
9Office Administrator$63,275$30.42
10Records Analyst$63,264$30.42
11Administrative Specialist$62,354$29.98
12Administrative Assistant$60,020$28.86
13Student Worker$52,040$25.02
14Data Entry Clerk$48,811$23.47
15Front Office Clerk$44,388$21.34

Los Alamos National Laboratory competitors’ average salaries

Average salaries at Los Alamos National Laboratory competitors, like Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Jefferson Lab, vary. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory employees earn the highest salaries, with an average yearly salary of $90,055. The average salary at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is $83,088 per year, and the average salary at Jefferson Lab is $82,747 per year.

Highest paying Los Alamos National Laboratory competitors

Recently added Los Alamos National Laboratory salaries

JobLocationDate addedSalary
Maintenance Support SpecialistLos Alamos, NM06/28/2025$71,200
Quality Engineer (R&D Engineer)Los Alamos, NM06/28/2025$125,200
Vessel Production Project Team Lead (Science/Engineering Project Leader)Los Alamos, NM06/28/2025$138,500
Post Doctoral Position In Small Scale Mechanics Under Combined ExtremesLos Alamos, NM06/28/2025$97,000
NEN Postdoctoral Research AssociateLos Alamos, NM06/26/2025$97,000

What employees say about salary at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Employee reviews
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4.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2024
Pros of working at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Invaluable experience solving complex problems alongside the best and brightest in their field provides an education that can't be bought. Available resources for doing your job, good pay, BEAUTIFUL scenery, and exposure to interesting people from all over the world.

Cons of working at Los Alamos National Laboratory

While the scientists/engineers conducting programmatic work in thier field of discipline range from pretty decent to best on earth, blatantly incompetent engineers/scientists are made mid- or low-level managers in charge of veteran technologists to prevent further damage because they can't be fired.

Los Alamos National Laboratory benefits

Pay/Benefits are very competitive, prestigious addition to any resume.

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5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2023
Pros of working at Los Alamos National Laboratory

All the interesting jobs that are available.

Cons of working at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Poor upper management

Los Alamos National Laboratory benefits

Retirement and health care

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3.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2021
Pros of working at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Opportunities for growth and competitive salary

Cons of working at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Restrictions and mandates

Los Alamos National Laboratory benefits

Competitive salary

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5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2021
Pros of working at Los Alamos National Laboratory

The work environment is relaxed and you feel that there is time to develop professional skills.

Cons of working at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Security measures can slow progress.

Los Alamos National Laboratory benefits

401k matching is generous.

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4.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2021
Pros of working at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Working at a leading company in research and development was a very exciting atmosphere to be engaged with.

Cons of working at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Very secure and intense work environment. Mainly because it is run by the DOE which is a government entity.

Los Alamos National Laboratory benefits

matched 401K contributions

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5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros of working at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Challenging, Forward Thinking, Leading In Global Sciences

Cons of working at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Home life work life balance

Los Alamos National Laboratory benefits

Great benefits.

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Frequently asked questions about Los Alamos National Laboratory salaries

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Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Los Alamos National Laboratory, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Los Alamos National Laboratory. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Los Alamos National Laboratory. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Los Alamos National Laboratory and its employees or that of Zippia.

Los Alamos National Laboratory may also be known as or be related to Lloyd B Gordon and Los Alamos National Laboratory.