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Laboratory instructor salary
Average laboratory instructor salary
$49,931
Understanding Laboratory Instructor Salaries
The average salary for a Laboratory Instructor is currently $49,931 annually. This figure can vary significantly based on location, experience, and the specific field of instruction. For instance, instructors in higher education settings may earn more compared to those in secondary education.
Salary by State
In different states, salaries can fluctuate. States like California and New York tend to offer higher compensation due to the higher cost of living and demand for skilled educators. Conversely, states with lower living costs may offer lower salaries.
Opportunities for Advancement
Laboratory Instructors have opportunities to advance their careers through additional certifications or degrees, which can lead to higher salaries and positions such as lead instructor or program director. Understanding the average salary trends in your area can help you strategically plan your career path in this rewarding field.
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Where can a Laboratory Instructor earn more?
Average laboratory instructor salary by state
The average laboratory instructor salary in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Michigan are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average laboratory instructor salary states are Utah, South Carolina, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for laboratory instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $64,846 | $31.18 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $65,122 | $31.31 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $62,900 | $30.24 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $70,082 | $33.69 |
| 5 | Iowa | $56,643 | $27.23 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $57,041 | $27.42 |
| 7 | North Carolina | $55,467 | $26.67 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $59,525 | $28.62 |
| 9 | Vermont | $52,993 | $25.48 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $57,895 | $27.83 |
| 11 | Delaware | $56,548 | $27.19 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $51,961 | $24.98 |
| 13 | New York | $54,428 | $26.17 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $50,091 | $24.08 |
| 15 | California | $51,099 | $24.57 |
| 16 | Oregon | $51,356 | $24.69 |
| 17 | Washington | $52,756 | $25.36 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $61,866 | $29.74 |
| 19 | Alaska | $49,574 | $23.83 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $45,568 | $21.91 |
| 21 | Maine | $50,291 | $24.18 |
| 22 | Indiana | $51,731 | $24.87 |
| 23 | Virginia | $51,658 | $24.84 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $48,461 | $23.30 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $52,421 | $25.20 |
| 26 | Maryland | $49,387 | $23.74 |
| 27 | Colorado | $44,140 | $21.22 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $48,705 | $23.42 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $47,600 | $22.88 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $42,294 | $20.33 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $45,896 | $22.07 |
| 32 | Ohio | $46,408 | $22.31 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $51,020 | $24.53 |
| 34 | Montana | $40,031 | $19.25 |
| 35 | Kansas | $43,583 | $20.95 |
| 36 | Missouri | $47,136 | $22.66 |
| 37 | Alabama | $43,433 | $20.88 |
| 38 | Illinois | $44,301 | $21.30 |
| 39 | Georgia | $40,007 | $19.23 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $38,468 | $18.49 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $39,737 | $19.10 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $36,462 | $17.53 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $41,175 | $19.80 |
| 44 | Florida | $36,036 | $17.32 |
| 45 | Nevada | $35,476 | $17.06 |
| 46 | Texas | $38,175 | $18.35 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $37,383 | $17.97 |
| 48 | Arizona | $34,286 | $16.48 |
| 49 | Utah | $37,038 | $17.81 |
| 50 | Idaho | $33,508 | $16.11 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $37,608 | $18.08 |
Highest paying cities for laboratory instructors
The highest-paying cities for laboratory instructors are Springfield, MA, Saint Paul, MN, and Lansing, MI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield, MA | $70,438 | $33.86 |
| 2 | Saint Paul, MN | $65,168 | $31.33 |
| 3 | Lansing, MI | $64,516 | $31.02 |
| 4 | Lakewood, NJ | $62,755 | $30.17 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,149 | $27.96 |
| 6 | Durham, NC | $57,203 | $27.50 |
| 7 | Redding, CA | $54,149 | $26.03 |
| 8 | Albany, NY | $53,954 | $25.94 |
| 9 | Lynnwood, WA | $53,411 | $25.68 |
| 10 | Fredericksburg, VA | $52,511 | $25.25 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $49,594 | $23.84 |
| 12 | Clarksville, TN | $47,034 | $22.61 |
| 13 | Bowling Green, KY | $46,463 | $22.34 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $44,554 | $21.42 |
| 15 | Denver, CO | $44,116 | $21.21 |
| 16 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $43,440 | $20.88 |
| 17 | Hutchinson, KS | $42,022 | $20.20 |
| 18 | Baton Rouge, LA | $38,350 | $18.44 |
| 19 | Tulsa, OK | $38,128 | $18.33 |
| 20 | College Station, TX | $37,938 | $18.24 |
Laboratory instructor salary details
A laboratory instructor's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $78,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a laboratory instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| Average | $49,931 | $4,161 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying laboratory instructor jobs
The highest paying types of laboratory instructors are adjunct faculty, instructional supervisor, and adjunct lecturer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching Fellow | $44,040 | $3,670 | $21.17 | 40,551 |
| Adjunct Faculty | $83,069 | $6,922 | $39.94 | 26,791 |
| Teacher-In-Training | $37,214 | $3,101 | $17.89 | 132,725 |
| Adjunct Lecturer | $79,657 | $6,638 | $38.30 | 26,546 |
| Instructor, Adjunct Faculty | $52,225 | $4,352 | $25.11 | 37,739 |
| Technical Instructor | $68,086 | $5,674 | $32.73 | 103,399 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for laboratory instructors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
David McMahan Ph.D.
Charles A. Dana Professor of Religious Studies, Franklin and Marshall College
Top companies hiring laboratory instructors now:
Which companies pay laboratory instructors the most?
Laboratory instructor salaries at Hutchinson Community College and New York University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average laboratory instructor salary at companies like Utica College and Edmonds Community College, Lynnwood are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hutchinson Community College | $87,873 | $42.25 |
| 2 | New York University | $75,235 | $36.17 |
| 3 | Utica College | $72,513 | $34.86 |
| 4 | Edmonds Community College, Lynnwood | $69,626 | $33.47 |
| 5 | Tulsa Tech | $63,932 | $30.74 |
| 6 | Suffolk University | $63,055 | $30.31 |
| 7 | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | $62,044 | $29.83 |
| 8 | Elgin Community College | $61,987 | $29.80 |
| 9 | Molloy College | $59,234 | $28.48 |
| 10 | Lawrence University | $59,169 | $28.45 |
| 11 | Salem State University | $59,167 | $28.45 |
| 12 | Western Governors University | $58,206 | $27.98 |
| 13 | State College of Florida | $57,974 | $27.87 |
| 14 | Georgian Court University | $57,362 | $27.58 |
| 15 | Springfield Technical Community College | $56,316 | $27.07 |
| 16 | Jamestown Community College | $56,253 | $27.04 |
| 17 | Pima Medical Institute | $55,872 | $26.86 |
| 18 | PSEA | $55,624 | $26.74 |
| 19 | Iona College | $55,204 | $26.54 |
| 20 | Jacksonville State University | $53,961 | $25.94 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Laboratory instructor salary trends
The average laboratory instructor salary has risen by $6,131 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average laboratory instructor earned $43,800 annually, but today, they earn $49,931 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for laboratory instructors over the last decade.
Compare laboratory instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average laboratory instructor salary over time
Compare laboratory instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Laboratory instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $49,900 | $24.01 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $49,000 | $23.57 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $47,700 | $22.93 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $46,300 | $22.27 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $45,500 | $21.86 | +2.3% |
Recently added laboratory instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Governors University | Instructor, Learning Lab-Salt | Salt Lake City, UT | 06/30/2025 | $75,400 |
| Western Governors University | Instructor, Learning Lab | Indianapolis, IN | 06/30/2025 | $75,654 |
| Molloy College | Nursing Lab Instructor | Rockville Centre, NY | 06/29/2025 | $79,306 |
| Western Governors University | On-Site Instructor, Learning LAB- | Lane, KS | 06/28/2025 | $75,654 |
| Alabama State University | Biology Laboratory Instructor | Montgomery, AL | 06/26/2025 | $40,000 |
| Massasoit Community College | Paramedic Lab Instructor, Paramedic Program-Massasoit Community College | Middleborough, MA | 06/25/2025 | $104,350 |
| Nightingale College | Instructor, Math Lab | Salt Lake City, UT | 06/24/2025 | $52,883 |
| Dean College | Adjunct Lab Instructor-Human Biology (BIO 180)-Dean College | Franklin Town, MA | 06/21/2025 | $26,400 |
| Passaic County Community College | Surgical Technology Instructor/Lab Instructor | Paterson, NJ | 06/16/2025 | $79,306 |
| Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science | Laboratory Instructor | North Chicago, IL | 06/16/2025 | $104,350 |
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