Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for research laboratory technicians in the United States
Research laboratory technician job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected research laboratory technician job growth rate is 9% from 2018-2028.
About 7,700 new jobs for research laboratory technicians are projected over the next decade.
Research laboratory technician salaries have increased 9% for research laboratory technicians in the last 5 years.
There are over 41,865 research laboratory technicians currently employed in the United States.
There are 86,476 active research laboratory technician job openings in the US.
The average research laboratory technician salary is $38,308.
Are research laboratory technician jobs in demand?
Research laboratory technician job and salary trends over time
Research laboratory technician jobs over time
Research laboratory technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 41,865 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 45,087 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 44,579 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 43,398 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 41,717 | 0.01% |
Average research laboratory technician salary over time
Research laboratory technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $38,308 | $18.42 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $37,911 | $18.23 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $36,787 | $17.69 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $36,208 | $17.41 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | $35,150 | $16.90 | +2.1% |
Research laboratory technician jobs by state
Most common states for research laboratory technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,404 | 35% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 161 | 26% |
| 3 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 218 | 25% |
| 4 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 169 | 24% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 304 | 23% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,128 | 19% |
| 7 | Alaska | 739,795 | 135 | 18% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,261 | 17% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 955 | 17% |
| 10 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 708 | 17% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 311 | 16% |
| 12 | Delaware | 961,939 | 157 | 16% |
| 13 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 124 | 16% |
| 14 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 93 | 16% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 852 | 15% |
| 16 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 464 | 15% |
| 17 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 460 | 15% |
| 18 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 164 | 15% |
| 19 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 155 | 15% |
| 20 | New York | 19,849,399 | 2,744 | 14% |
Most common cities for research laboratory technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfort | 1 | 4% | $30,831 |
| 2 | Annapolis | 1 | 3% | $37,289 |
| 3 | Dover | 1 | 3% | $34,090 |
| 4 | Boston | 11 | 2% | $43,805 |
| 5 | Los Angeles | 22 | 1% | $45,445 |
| 6 | Baltimore | 6 | 1% | $37,377 |
| 7 | Aurora | 3 | 1% | $35,534 |
| 8 | Port Saint Lucie | 2 | 1% | $28,258 |
| 9 | Boulder | 1 | 1% | $35,566 |
| 10 | Decatur | 1 | 1% | $44,343 |
| 11 | Hartford | 1 | 1% | $43,961 |
| 12 | Chicago | 3 | 0% | $45,782 |
| 13 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $37,635 |
| 14 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $32,639 |
| 15 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $35,540 |
| 16 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $35,325 |
| 17 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $27,560 |
Research Laboratory Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of research laboratory technician experts
SUNY Stony Brook
Washburn University of Topeka
Utah State University
Northern Michigan University
Georgetown University
Santa Fe College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Washington State University
University of Kentucky
Purdue University
University of Pittsburgh
University of Nebraska - Omaha
Loyola University New Orleans
Western Washington University
What will help Research Laboratory Technicians increase their earning potential?
Christopher Vitek Ph.D.: I love being a population biologist because it allows me to work with a lot of other people and help public health offices learn how to control vector-borne diseases. The work is interesting and has an end result that can provide some use to the public. One thing that people may not like is that population biology often uses a lot of math and mathematical modeling to help predict growth and distribution patterns. You don’t need to be an expert, but you should be comfortable with math.
What general advice would you give to a Research Laboratory Technician?
Dr. Taufika Williams PhD: Finding a job at with an undergraduate degree may be quite doable but upward mobility in your career often requires a terminal degree (i.e. PhD). Stay in school for as long as you can! Some students will work in biotechnology for a few years after their undergraduate studies are over and then return to school for graduate education. The work experience can tremendously benefit graduate research.
Dr. Mrunalini Pattarkine PhD
ProfessorWhat general advice would you give to a Research Laboratory Technician?
Dr. Mrunalini Pattarkine PhD: With the advancement in technologies and innovation, the industry will need a workforce that is firmly grounded in basic biotechnology concepts. The skills needed would be high-throughput assay development, integrated AI technologies for drug discovery and biomanufacturing, wearable biomedical devices, 3D cell culture, Bioprinting, microfluidics -these are some of the areas. Along with these technical skills, soft skills will be very critical. Teamwork, critical thinking, collaboration, time management, conflict resolution, and communication will be very important. Last but not least is networking. It is an important activity that will help professionally.
What Research Laboratory Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Mrunalini Pattarkine PhD: Be aware of the industry needs and acquire knowledge that aligns with that need. Convince the employer how you can add value to their talent pool. Be confident in demonstrating that you are the best candidate for that position. While finishing education, look for opportunities to gain real-world hands-on experience.
What will help Research Laboratory Technicians increase their earning potential?
Dr. Mrunalini Pattarkine PhD: The biotechnology field is an interdisciplinary field of applied science. Certain concepts and technical skills are transferable across multiple sectors such as Biomanufacturing, Research-Development, Healthcare, as well as Regulatory -Quality Control fields. If one is interested in making a targeted approach to a certain industry, it is best to find programs (Harrisburg University MS BTEC program) that already has in-built specializations. These allow students to get specialized knowledge base and an option to customize their capstone portfolios. Being current with the emerging technologies and following an agile curriculum is very important. Our program has a tremendous advantage due to our corporate faculty who are seasoned industry professionals. Last but not least is networking. It is an important activity that will help professionally.
What will help Research Laboratory Technicians increase their earning potential?
Frank David MD, PhD: In basic research jobs, the key lab-related skills will continue to be the ones that are commonly used for discovering and developing new therapies: mammalian cell culture, in vitro assays, transfection, immunoprecipitation, Western blots, etc. It’s typically not necessary to 'check all the boxes' in terms of bench skills for a job, but having a few of these key techniques under your belt will give a company confidence that you can learn others. In general across the industry, effective written communication and project management are key skills that cut across almost all jobs and divisions within biotech and pharma. Anything you can do to build and highlight those capabilities will serve you in good stead.
Camellia Okpodu
What Research Laboratory Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Camellia Okpodu: My advise would be to continue to network by joining affiliated associations in botany and Keep learning, stay updated on research, and explore new areas.
What general advice would you give to a Research Laboratory Technician?
Dr. Vitaly Citovsky: One cannot get high salaries with a bachelor's degree in biology. To maximize your future salary you need to get a terminal degree such as PhD or MD. Alternatively one could go to law school. If you still want to begin working after BSc, look for industry jobs; these would be low-level technicians but make much more money than in academia.
Susan Bjerke
Associate Professor of BiologyWashburn University of Topeka
Biological And Physical Sciences
What will help Research Laboratory Technicians increase their earning potential?
Susan Bjerke: Some of the skills that will be important in the next 3-5 years will be general critical thinking skills and the ability to adapt to changing technology. Almost all science fields are increasingly dependent on technology, so being able to learn new skills and change the way you do things in your job will be important. Being an effective communicator, both in writing and orally, is an overlooked skill in the sciences and is always an important asset.
What general advice would you give to a Research Laboratory Technician?
Ronald Sims: Communication skills, especially including verbal and visualization skills utilized in explaining complex biological processes and statistical design of experiments with interpretation of data. Be able to communicate with both scientists and engineers in addressing technical aspects and issues related to product development. Leadership and management skills related to team building and collaborative approaches, as well as sharing credit for accomplishments with others. Trust. An attitude of innovation and change for improvement in quality of the work or product. Computer management, modeling, and interrogation of large data sets of measurements is becoming increasingly important.
What Research Laboratory Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ronald Sims: Be flexible and adaptable in considering employers and employment opportunities to take advantage of the very broad field of biological engineering that includes bioprocess, biopharmaceutical, bioagricultural, bioenvironmental, and biomedical applications. Let the experiences of the first employment opportunity be your "real world teacher" to learn practical applications of theories from the classroom and academic laboratory sessions. These experiences will help you make decisions about future positions while you are building your resume with experience at the same time.
Martin Renaldi MT (ASCP), MPA
Assistant Professor / MLS Program DirectorNorthern Michigan University
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, And Treatment Professions
What general advice would you give to a Research Laboratory Technician?
Martin Renaldi MT (ASCP), MPA: Experience. I have found through my time in the realm that an experienced lab tech is going to be highly sought after and henceforth will have optimal pay opportunities. As the word implies, experience can only be achieved through 'time in the lab' which means you have to put in your time to gather that resume boosting element, experience. Once that happens, then even more doors open up in the profession.
What Research Laboratory Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Martin Renaldi MT (ASCP), MPA: The skills that will be required in the lab tech milieu over the next 3-5 years are the same ones that are necessary now, which is what makes the lab tech profession so lucrative. Foundational laboratory skills are a must now and will be must in the future. Once the aspiring lab tech learns and masters the foundational work, such as lab math, pipetting, dilution schemes, titrating, proper glassware use and application, basic spectrophotometry, transformational weights and measures, microscopy, etc. then they'll be readily adaptable for employment in any laboratory setting.
What will help Research Laboratory Technicians increase their earning potential?
Martin Renaldi MT (ASCP), MPA: I would highly recommend that the newly graduated lab tech does not limit themself to a specific location or a specific vocation. The places to work and the types of jobs available are nearly limitless. If one thinks outside of the box, outside of the mainstream lab tech opportunities, they'll find a whole host of other intriguing possibilities. So, do not limit yourself, the world is your oyster, .......so to speak.
What general advice would you give to a Research Laboratory Technician?
Ivica Labuda PhD: The 21st century is the century of biotechnology, which means that opportunities for a successful, impactful career in the field are there for those who go after them. Your blossoming career path may take you from the private sector, to government agencies, to academia and beyond, so taking advantage of every opportunity to gain exposure to the different sides of biotech will set you up to grasp varied and exciting opportunities.
What Research Laboratory Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ivica Labuda PhD: Certainly everyone in the biotech field would benefit from having knowledge of biotechnology techniques and skills in concert with understanding the regulatory framework. That provides a good foundation so that one can interact confidently in every aspect of the biotech world. With AI progress, the next step is to add the basic understanding of the speed at which we can evolve new techniques and materials. Not everybody needs to code, but everyone needs to think about how to maximize its benefits for biotechnology.
What general advice would you give to a Research Laboratory Technician?
Jeff Heslep: Find a starting job that gives you a wide range of work to perform. The more experience you can gain during the first few years will help you to hone your skills, decide what areas interest you the most, and give you the opportunity to choose. Learn as much as you can about the various equipment, analytical techniques, processes, and how to troubleshoot minor problems. Take the initiative and ask to learn how to use instruments you aren't familiar with. It is unlikely someone will deny you the opportunity to broaden your knowledge. Take every chance you have to network and get to know the people within your local biotechnology industry. Networking plays a major role in employment opportunities. Work on your written and verbal communication skills. Communicating well will help you stand out. Being able to effectively convey complex scientific concepts in such a way that anyone can understand it can be a powerful skill.
What Research Laboratory Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jacob Nordman: The very first thing to do, probably before you even apply for a PhD program, is ask yourself, “What do I want to do with my PhD?” In my field of neuroscience, that usually means one of 3 things: academia, industry, or policy. All three have different requirements and so involve different priorities. If the answer is academia, the most important requirement is publications, awards, and grants. These are what will make you appealing to labs and departments. If the answer is industry, having hands on experience with state-of-the-art techniques relevant to your field, along with the requisite high-profile papers, will make you appealing to employers. Either way, knowing what you will want to do will help you craft a graduate school experience that best equips you to compete in an extraordinarily competitive job marker.
What will help Research Laboratory Technicians increase their earning potential?
Lindsey du Toit: Take every opportunity you can to learn, network, and build an effective team of people that bring a greater breadth and depth of skills and expertise to the work on which you will be focusing. Cultivate a life-long sense of intellectual curiosity and learning. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Treat ignorance as an opportunity to learn. Questions demonstrate you want to understand the situation/problem effectively and that you are paying attention. Always demonstrate integrity in your work. It is one of the most valuable traits you can bring to your career. Be kind and supportive of your colleagues.
Dr. David Harmon
Professor of Animal & Food SciencesUniversity of Kentucky
Animal Sciences
What Research Laboratory Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. David Harmon: Opportunities abound. The job opportunities outnumber current graduates. Decide what you want to be good at and then be good at it.
What will help Research Laboratory Technicians increase their earning potential?
Dr. David Harmon: Be productive as a graduate student. Publishing is still the road to success.
Yan Cong
Purdue University
Romance Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What general advice would you give to a Research Laboratory Technician?
Yan Cong: Professionally, focus on building your resume from the first day. This process can involve publishing in your field and connecting with other researchers. Personally, balance between your graduate work and your mental wellbeing.
What general advice would you give to a Research Laboratory Technician?
Arjumand Ghazi Ph. D: Don’t hesitate to experiment with different career options before settling for one where you enjoy the work and make a good living.
What will help Research Laboratory Technicians increase their earning potential?
Arjumand Ghazi Ph. D: Having an advanced degree such as a PhD and even a few years postdoc is a good way to start at a higher level. It often allows one to make up for the reduced earnings during the training periods while increasing long-term earnings.
Andrew Riquier Ph.D.
InstructorUniversity of Nebraska - Omaha
Neurobiology And Neurosciences
What general advice would you give to a Research Laboratory Technician?
Andrew Riquier Ph.D.: Apply for the positions you want, even if you feel underqualified. I know plenty of people who have applied for jobs they didn't quite meet the requirements for, and got hired for other reasons. In my experience, many recent graduates choose to take time to strengthen their resumes by retaking classes, working jobs they don't particularly want to get experience, etc. There is some value in that, particularly if you have been unsuccessful attaining the position you want, or if you want to see if you even enjoy that type of work. But if you are confident in what you want to do, go for it; in the worst-case scenario, you are in the same position you would be if you hadn't applied, but now you have experience applying and have potentially gained a contact in the field.
What Research Laboratory Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Andrew Riquier Ph.D.: Necessary skills obviously vary from position to position and across time. Therefore, I think the ability to learn new skills as the need arises is of the utmost importance. But if I had to name something more specific, it would likely be computer skills and various data analytic skills. As AI gets further integrated into the field, understanding how to make use of it is becoming increasingly more important. Additionally, being able to analyze patterns of results across multiple fields will likely yield fruitful avenues of research.
Adam Lowenstein
news bureau chiefWhat Research Laboratory Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Adam Lowenstein: Teamwork and soft skills. Excellent communication and mindset for business. Computational and regulatory compliance knowledge.
Kimberlee Mix PhD
Provost Distinguished Professor of Biological SciencesLoyola University New Orleans
Biochemistry, Biophysics And Molecular Biology
What will help Research Laboratory Technicians increase their earning potential?
Kimberlee Mix PhD: Keep an open mind in your first position - it may involve repetitive lab work focused on a single technique or protocol. Learn as much as you can about the big picture of your project and know that you have an important part in it. Take advantage of down-time during incubations to socialize with your new colleagues and learn about their career journeys. Ask lots of questions and take good notes.
What Research Laboratory Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kimberlee Mix PhD: Bioinformatics knowledge and skills will be in high demand across the board. Understanding the principles of DNA and RNA sequencing and multi-omics analysis methods will be very helpful. Reading the scientific literature and going to research conferences are great ways to stay current on new techniques and advances in the field.
What general advice would you give to a Research Laboratory Technician?
Josh Kaplan Ph.D.: Being able to work with various computer coding languages and implementing free, open-source software, will be increasingly valuable in a work setting that involves research, data analysis, or program optimization. Many workplaces used to rely on expensive software, but can now be replaced by open source programs and used by those who are comfortable with common computer coding languages. This can save an employer loads of money without sacrificing performance outcomes or deliverables.
What Research Laboratory Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Josh Kaplan Ph.D.: Demonstrating a skill set that is unique, such as experience with a rare technical research approach, or demonstrating that you can save your employer money by utilizing free resources, can be used to negotiate a higher salary.