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A Biology Laboratory Technician plays a vital role in conducting experiments, analyzing samples, and supporting scientific research. As of October 2025, the average salary stands at $38,514 per year, translating to approximately $19 per hour. Salaries can vary based on experience, location, and specific job responsibilities.
Experience is a significant factor; entry-level technicians might start lower, while those with several years in the field can earn substantially more. Moreover, state-specific salaries reveal that technicians in states like California and New York often report higher earnings, reflecting the cost of living and demand in those areas.
For those considering a career as a biology laboratory technician, Zippia provides a comprehensive job board with listings across various states and cities. This resource is invaluable for job seekers aiming to find positions that match their skills and salary expectations.
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Let Zippia find your next biology laboratory technician job
The average biology laboratory technician salary in California, Hawaii, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average biology laboratory technician salary states are Montana, Indiana, and South Dakota.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $50,927 | $24.48 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $42,581 | $20.47 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $43,376 | $20.85 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $44,902 | $21.59 |
| 5 | New York | $43,703 | $21.01 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $50,796 | $24.42 |
| 7 | Maryland | $43,329 | $20.83 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $44,891 | $21.58 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $39,300 | $18.89 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $38,229 | $18.38 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $37,247 | $17.91 |
| 12 | Oregon | $38,901 | $18.70 |
| 13 | Iowa | $35,894 | $17.26 |
| 14 | Arkansas | $37,703 | $18.13 |
| 15 | Texas | $40,040 | $19.25 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $39,230 | $18.86 |
| 17 | Illinois | $38,796 | $18.65 |
| 18 | Washington | $37,276 | $17.92 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $38,645 | $18.58 |
| 20 | Alaska | $34,661 | $16.66 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $35,107 | $16.88 |
| 22 | Michigan | $33,133 | $15.93 |
| 23 | Florida | $35,105 | $16.88 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $34,042 | $16.37 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $38,373 | $18.45 |
| 26 | Missouri | $35,697 | $17.16 |
| 27 | Utah | $34,805 | $16.73 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $33,011 | $15.87 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $34,804 | $16.73 |
| 30 | Ohio | $31,775 | $15.28 |
| 31 | Delaware | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| 32 | Kansas | $31,075 | $14.94 |
| 33 | Virginia | $35,801 | $17.21 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $33,001 | $15.87 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $32,946 | $15.84 |
| 36 | Arizona | $31,190 | $15.00 |
| 37 | Maine | $32,056 | $15.41 |
| 38 | Vermont | $29,024 | $13.95 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $27,746 | $13.34 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $31,022 | $14.91 |
| 41 | Nevada | $30,910 | $14.86 |
| 42 | Idaho | $30,447 | $14.64 |
| 43 | Montana | $27,895 | $13.41 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $27,346 | $13.15 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $28,718 | $13.81 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $31,282 | $15.04 |
| 47 | Colorado | $31,306 | $15.05 |
| 48 | Georgia | $30,692 | $14.76 |
| 49 | Indiana | $27,822 | $13.38 |
| 50 | Alabama | $27,210 | $13.08 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $26,408 | $12.70 |
The highest-paying cities for biology laboratory technicians are South San Francisco, CA, Bridgewater, MA, and Salisbury, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South San Francisco, CA | $52,210 | $25.10 |
| 2 | Bridgewater, MA | $43,758 | $21.04 |
| 3 | Salisbury, MD | $43,552 | $20.94 |
| 4 | Rochester, NY | $41,924 | $20.16 |
| 5 | Eugene, OR | $39,438 | $18.96 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $38,904 | $18.70 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $37,544 | $18.05 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $37,394 | $17.98 |
| 9 | Chesterfield, MO | $35,697 | $17.16 |
| 10 | Charlottesville, VA | $35,678 | $17.15 |
| 11 | Omaha, NE | $34,868 | $16.76 |
| 12 | Logan, UT | $34,529 | $16.60 |
| 13 | Morgantown, WV | $33,560 | $16.13 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $31,684 | $15.23 |
| 15 | Reno, NV | $30,852 | $14.83 |
| 16 | Memphis, TN | $28,625 | $13.76 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $27,763 | $13.35 |
A biology laboratory technician's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $50,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| Average | $38,514 | $3,210 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
The highest paying types of biology laboratory technicians are research and development technician, research assistant, chemistry department, and pilot plant technician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research And Development Technician | $83,552 | $6,963 | $40.17 | 111,268 |
| Science Technician | $35,570 | $2,964 | $17.10 | 16,073 |
| Research Technician | $43,034 | $3,586 | $20.69 | 64,786 |
| Wildlife Technician | $33,462 | $2,789 | $16.09 | 9,809 |
| Cell Technician | $51,227 | $4,269 | $24.63 | 18,729 |
| Laboratory Internship | $35,305 | $2,942 | $16.97 | 90,970 |
Top companies hiring biology laboratory technicians now:
Biology laboratory technician salaries at University of California and The University of Chicago are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average biology laboratory technician salary at companies like Carnegie Mellon University and Edwards Lifesciences are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California | $49,015 | $23.56 |
| 2 | The University of Chicago | $46,481 | $22.35 |
| 3 | Carnegie Mellon University | $45,531 | $21.89 |
| 4 | Edwards Lifesciences | $42,897 | $20.62 |
| 5 | San Diego College of Continuing Education | $41,826 | $20.11 |
| 6 | University of Rochester | $39,037 | $18.77 |
| 7 | Bridgewater State University | $38,125 | $18.33 |
| 8 | Food Safety Net Services | $38,086 | $18.31 |
| 9 | CTG | $37,872 | $18.21 |
| 10 | Temple University | $37,787 | $18.17 |
| 11 | Nashville State Community College | $37,730 | $18.14 |
| 12 | Kelly Services | $37,707 | $18.13 |
| 13 | Crowdstaffing | $37,616 | $18.08 |
| 14 | University of Nevada, Reno | $37,571 | $18.06 |
| 15 | Aerotek | $36,401 | $17.50 |
| 16 | Staffing Resources | $35,807 | $17.21 |
| 17 | University of Virginia | $34,242 | $16.46 |
| 18 | Adelphi University | $33,342 | $16.03 |
| 19 | West Virginia University | $33,280 | $16.00 |
| 20 | Randolph College | $32,592 | $15.67 |
The average biology laboratory technician salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $42,584 | $20.47 |
| 2 | Professional | $40,566 | $19.50 |
| 3 | Government | $38,475 | $18.50 |
| 4 | Education | $37,236 | $17.90 |
The average biology laboratory technician salary has risen by $5,702 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average biology laboratory technician earned $32,812 annually, but today, they earn $38,514 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for biology laboratory technicians over the last decade.
Compare biology laboratory technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare biology laboratory technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $38,500 | $18.52 | +1.0% |
| 2025 | $38,100 | $18.32 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $37,000 | $17.78 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $36,400 | $17.50 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $35,300 | $16.99 | +2.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Sierra University | Biology Student Junior Science Operations (SO1) Ay'26 | Riverside, CA | 06/28/2025 | $34,436 |
| City University of New York | Adjunct College Laboratory Technician-Biological Sciences | New York, NY | 06/22/2025 | $69,121 |
| State of Virginia | Biology Lab and Research Technician 1 | Charlottesville, VA | 06/13/2025 | $37,566 |
| University of Virginia | Biology Lab and Research Technician 1 | Charlottesville, VA | 06/12/2025 | $37,566 |
| Oakton Community College | Temp Biology Lab Staff-Oakton College | Des Plaines, IL | 06/11/2025 | $39,653 |
| Akkodis | Biology Laboratory Technician | Irvine, CA | 06/09/2025 | $56,349 |
| Akkodis | Biology Laboratory Technician | Irvine, CA | 05/30/2025 | $56,349 |
| The Staffing Resource Group, Inc. | Biological Lab Technician | Salisbury, MD | 04/14/2025 | $35,479 |
| Seattle Colleges | Biology Laboratory Technician IV (Temporary) | Seattle, WA | 03/05/2025 | $56,916 |
| Parsons | Biological Technician I, Sequencing and Detection-Expeditionary Laboratory Operations Department ( | Frederick, MD | 02/25/2025 | $52,700 |
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