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Laboratory specialist salary
Average laboratory specialist salary
$50,357
Average Laboratory Specialist Salary
The average salary for a Laboratory Specialist in the United States is $50,357 annually. This figure reflects the base pay, but actual earnings can vary based on a number of factors. For example, experience level significantly impacts salary; specialists with more years in the field often earn higher wages. Additionally, location plays a crucial role in salary variations. States like California and New York typically offer higher compensation due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals.
Salary by State
Average salaries can differ by state, with some states offering significantly more than others. For instance, states with larger metropolitan areas often provide competitive pay. This information allows laboratory specialists to target locations that maximize their earning potential.
Industry Impact
Different industries also affect salary ranges. Laboratory specialists in healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors may see higher earnings compared to those in education or research. By understanding these dynamics, professionals can make informed career choices and negotiate salaries effectively.
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Where can a Laboratory Specialist earn more?
Laboratory specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average laboratory specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for laboratory specialists are Hawaii, Alaska, and Massachusetts. The lowest average laboratory specialist salary states are Missouri, Oklahoma, and Illinois.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for laboratory specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $62,191 | $29.90 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $56,253 | $27.04 |
| 3 | Nevada | $60,743 | $29.20 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $61,178 | $29.41 |
| 5 | Arizona | $56,682 | $27.25 |
| 6 | Alaska | $64,920 | $31.21 |
| 7 | New York | $58,549 | $28.15 |
| 8 | Vermont | $55,073 | $26.48 |
| 9 | Maine | $53,560 | $25.75 |
| 10 | Oregon | $61,099 | $29.37 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $59,465 | $28.59 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $65,347 | $31.42 |
| 13 | Ohio | $51,558 | $24.79 |
| 14 | Washington | $58,871 | $28.30 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $50,150 | $24.11 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $51,455 | $24.74 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $52,643 | $25.31 |
| 18 | Michigan | $48,877 | $23.50 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $50,276 | $24.17 |
| 20 | Montana | $52,078 | $25.04 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $49,116 | $23.61 |
| 22 | Idaho | $51,727 | $24.87 |
| 23 | Delaware | $52,883 | $25.42 |
| 24 | California | $57,305 | $27.55 |
| 25 | Alabama | $49,776 | $23.93 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $50,183 | $24.13 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $45,502 | $21.88 |
| 28 | Colorado | $53,313 | $25.63 |
| 29 | Maryland | $51,724 | $24.87 |
| 30 | Iowa | $45,744 | $21.99 |
| 31 | Texas | $48,432 | $23.28 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $43,850 | $21.08 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $45,627 | $21.94 |
| 34 | Utah | $48,377 | $23.26 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $52,846 | $25.41 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $47,477 | $22.83 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $44,265 | $21.28 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $47,196 | $22.69 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $46,064 | $22.15 |
| 40 | Kansas | $45,367 | $21.81 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $43,824 | $21.07 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $44,221 | $21.26 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $44,583 | $21.43 |
| 44 | Florida | $38,709 | $18.61 |
| 45 | Georgia | $44,482 | $21.39 |
| 46 | Indiana | $39,456 | $18.97 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $38,442 | $18.48 |
| 48 | Missouri | $42,191 | $20.28 |
| 49 | Virginia | $44,165 | $21.23 |
| 50 | Illinois | $39,840 | $19.15 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $40,745 | $19.59 |
Highest paying cities for laboratory specialists
The highest-paying cities for laboratory specialists are Boston, MA, Jersey City, NJ, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $62,214 | $29.91 |
| 2 | Jersey City, NJ | $61,507 | $29.57 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $59,168 | $28.45 |
| 4 | Albany, NY | $58,740 | $28.24 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $57,937 | $27.85 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $56,812 | $27.31 |
| 7 | Concord, NH | $56,079 | $26.96 |
| 8 | Castle Rock, CO | $53,334 | $25.64 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $52,053 | $25.03 |
| 10 | Memphis, TN | $50,646 | $24.35 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $48,740 | $23.43 |
| 12 | Ann Arbor, MI | $48,611 | $23.37 |
| 13 | Salt Lake City, UT | $48,249 | $23.20 |
| 14 | Iowa City, IA | $45,601 | $21.92 |
| 15 | Kansas City, KS | $45,053 | $21.66 |
| 16 | Manassas, VA | $44,753 | $21.52 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $44,654 | $21.47 |
| 18 | Rapid City, SD | $44,356 | $21.32 |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $44,224 | $21.26 |
| 20 | Kansas City, MO | $42,487 | $20.43 |
Laboratory specialist salary details
A laboratory specialist's salary ranges from $36,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $69,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a laboratory specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| Average | $50,357 | $4,196 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
Highest paying laboratory specialist jobs
The highest paying types of laboratory specialists are clinical laboratory scientist, laboratory supervisor, and medical technologist, generalist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Histologic Technician | $49,962 | $4,163 | $24.02 | 6,785 |
| Certified Pharmacist Technician | $37,059 | $3,088 | $17.82 | 113,033 |
| Medical Technologist, Generalist | $58,246 | $4,854 | $28.00 | 121,721 |
| Medical Technologist | $53,249 | $4,437 | $25.60 | 116,495 |
| Pharmacist Technician | $36,090 | $3,008 | $17.35 | 73,800 |
| Medical Laboratory Technologist Internship | $37,088 | $3,091 | $17.83 | 169,421 |
Top companies hiring laboratory specialists now:
Which companies pay laboratory specialists the most?
Laboratory specialist salaries at Nokia and HonorHealth are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average laboratory specialist salary at companies like Jacobs Engineering Group and UC Merced are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nokia | $64,684 | $31.10 |
| 2 | HonorHealth | $62,924 | $30.25 |
| 3 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $62,145 | $29.88 |
| 4 | UC Merced | $61,879 | $29.75 |
| 5 | Boston Public Schools | $61,368 | $29.50 |
| 6 | Illumina | $61,338 | $29.49 |
| 7 | Loyola Marymount University | $61,293 | $29.47 |
| 8 | Mission Regional Medical Center | $60,914 | $29.29 |
| 9 | Seattle Cancer Care Alliance | $60,707 | $29.19 |
| 10 | Exact Sciences | $60,625 | $29.15 |
| 11 | California Institute of Technology | $60,468 | $29.07 |
| 12 | Emory University | $59,727 | $28.71 |
| 13 | University of California-Berkeley | $59,141 | $28.43 |
| 14 | Moffitt Cancer Center | $58,927 | $28.33 |
| 15 | University of California | $58,857 | $28.30 |
| 16 | New York State Restaurant Association | $58,857 | $28.30 |
| 17 | University of Southern California | $58,749 | $28.24 |
| 18 | Deloitte | $58,514 | $28.13 |
| 19 | Baptist Health Home Care | $58,381 | $28.07 |
| 20 | Accenture | $58,114 | $27.94 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Laboratory Specialist salary by industry
The average laboratory specialist salary varies across industries:
- The average laboratory specialist salary in the health care industry is $51,385, the highest of any industry.
- The average laboratory specialist salary in the finance industry is $50,030.
- Laboratory specialists in the retail industry earn an average salary of $43,401, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for laboratory specialists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $51,385 | $24.70 |
| 2 | Education | $50,030 | $24.05 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $49,475 | $23.79 |
| 4 | Retail | $43,401 | $20.87 |
High paying laboratory specialist jobs
Laboratory specialist salary trends
The average laboratory specialist salary has risen by $6,305 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average laboratory specialist earned $44,052 annually, but today, they earn $50,357 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for laboratory specialists over the last decade.
Compare laboratory specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average laboratory specialist salary over time
Compare laboratory specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Laboratory specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,400 | $24.21 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $49,000 | $23.55 | -0.7% |
| 2023 | $49,300 | $23.72 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $48,100 | $23.13 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $47,200 | $22.69 | +0.9% |
Recently added laboratory specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Terra Fina | FSQ Lab Specialist | Union, LA | 06/30/2025 | $58,436 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Lab Specialist-Department of Cellular, Molecular, and Genetic Medicine | Richmond, VA | 06/28/2025 | $35,000 |
| Perkinelmer, Inc. | Lab Management Specialist | Cambridge, MA | 06/27/2025 | $60,000 |
| Idaho State University | Anatomy Lab Specialist, Treasure Valley Anatomy and Physiology Labs (2577) | Pocatello, ID | 06/27/2025 | $55,000 |
| La Terra Fina Usa | FSQ Lab Specialist | Union City, CA | 06/27/2025 | $58,436 |
| El Camino Hospital Mountain View | Lab Charge Capture Specialist--Eves-Clinical Laboratory MV | Mountain View, CA | 06/25/2025 | $71,125 |
| Summit Health Citymd | Lab Support Specialist I-Clinical Lab | Woodland Park, NJ | 06/25/2025 | $36,731 |
| The University of Vermont Health Network | Laboratory Charge Specialist-Lab-Admin | Plattsburgh, NY | 06/25/2025 | $50,088 |
| University of Rochester | Lab Specialist | Rochester, NY | 06/25/2025 | $44,578 |
| University of Michigan (The Regents @ Ann Arbor | Research Lab Specialist Inter | Ann Arbor, MI | 06/24/2025 | $50,000 |
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