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A Sample Prep Technician typically earns an average salary of $42,504 per year. This figure can fluctuate based on various factors, including experience, location, and the specific industry. For instance, technicians in research laboratories may earn more compared to those in educational settings.
Where to Find Higher Salaries
Locations such as California and New York often offer higher pay due to the cost of living and demand for skilled technicians. Additionally, industries like pharmaceuticals and biotech typically provide better compensation packages. Entry-level positions may start lower, but opportunities for advancement can lead to significant salary increases over time.
State-by-State Breakdown
States like California, Texas, and Florida present lucrative opportunities for Sample Prep Technicians. By reviewing salary estimates from various sources, job seekers can identify the best states for maximizing their earning potential.
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The highest-paying states for sample prep technicians are Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Delaware. The lowest average sample prep technician salary states are Iowa, Arkansas, and Colorado.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $52,735 | $25.35 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $63,853 | $30.70 |
| 3 | New York | $52,318 | $25.15 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $52,367 | $25.18 |
| 5 | Maine | $47,490 | $22.83 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $52,705 | $25.34 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $61,634 | $29.63 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $51,129 | $24.58 |
| 9 | Vermont | $47,856 | $23.01 |
| 10 | Delaware | $60,153 | $28.92 |
| 11 | Nevada | $45,835 | $22.04 |
| 12 | Texas | $44,708 | $21.49 |
| 13 | Florida | $43,052 | $20.70 |
| 14 | Maryland | $47,724 | $22.94 |
| 15 | Alaska | $42,428 | $20.40 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $42,179 | $20.28 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $56,465 | $27.15 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $53,566 | $25.75 |
| 19 | Virginia | $47,269 | $22.73 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $40,718 | $19.58 |
| 21 | Arizona | $40,921 | $19.67 |
| 22 | Ohio | $39,057 | $18.78 |
| 23 | Louisiana | $39,887 | $19.18 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $39,651 | $19.06 |
| 25 | Michigan | $37,161 | $17.87 |
| 26 | Alabama | $39,848 | $19.16 |
| 27 | California | $42,201 | $20.29 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $36,747 | $17.67 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $38,655 | $18.58 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $35,514 | $17.07 |
| 31 | Indiana | $36,301 | $17.45 |
| 32 | Oregon | $39,565 | $19.02 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $36,745 | $17.67 |
| 34 | Utah | $35,272 | $16.96 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $36,258 | $17.43 |
| 36 | Colorado | $34,907 | $16.78 |
| 37 | Missouri | $35,429 | $17.03 |
| 38 | Iowa | $35,202 | $16.92 |
| 39 | Georgia | $36,874 | $17.73 |
| 40 | Illinois | $36,101 | $17.36 |
| 41 | Kansas | $35,379 | $17.01 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $35,969 | $17.29 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $34,625 | $16.65 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $35,582 | $17.11 |
| 45 | Washington | $37,207 | $17.89 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $34,868 | $16.76 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $35,083 | $16.87 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $34,861 | $16.76 |
| 49 | Montana | $35,216 | $16.93 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $35,543 | $17.09 |
| 51 | Idaho | $35,544 | $17.09 |
The highest-paying cities for sample prep technicians are Fall River, MA, Allentown, PA, and Baltimore, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fall River, MA | $53,483 | $25.71 |
| 2 | Allentown, PA | $52,454 | $25.22 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $48,257 | $23.20 |
| 4 | Reno, NV | $45,911 | $22.07 |
| 5 | Garner, NC | $43,416 | $20.87 |
| 6 | Danville, VA | $42,980 | $20.66 |
| 7 | Fremont, CA | $42,909 | $20.63 |
| 8 | Allen, TX | $42,562 | $20.46 |
| 9 | DeLand, FL | $42,030 | $20.21 |
| 10 | Lafayette, LA | $40,367 | $19.41 |
| 11 | Birmingham, AL | $39,549 | $19.01 |
| 12 | Green Bay, WI | $36,768 | $17.68 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $36,647 | $17.62 |
| 14 | Henderson, KY | $36,222 | $17.41 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $36,157 | $17.38 |
| 16 | Spokane, WA | $36,019 | $17.32 |
| 17 | Saint Louis, MO | $35,589 | $17.11 |
| 18 | Holland, MI | $35,431 | $17.03 |
| 19 | Albuquerque, NM | $35,163 | $16.91 |
| 20 | Salt Lake City, UT | $35,134 | $16.89 |
A sample prep technician's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $63,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| 75th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| Average | $42,504 | $3,542 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
The highest paying types of sample prep technicians are mud logger, oil analyst, and sample preparation supervisor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mud Logger | $99,535 | $8,295 | $47.85 | 741 |
| Microbiologist | $54,620 | $4,552 | $26.26 | 11,444 |
| Research Laboratory Technician | $38,308 | $3,192 | $18.42 | 86,476 |
| Laboratory Technician | $40,038 | $3,337 | $19.25 | 84,357 |
| Technician | $38,045 | $3,170 | $18.29 | 596,842 |
Top companies hiring sample prep technicians now:
Sample prep technician salaries at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average sample prep technician salary at companies like Baystate Health and Mérieux NutriSciences are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Alamos National Laboratory | $67,229 | $32.32 |
| 2 | Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute | $62,198 | $29.90 |
| 3 | Baystate Health | $54,533 | $26.22 |
| 4 | Mérieux NutriSciences | $49,433 | $23.77 |
| 5 | ATI Physical Therapy | $48,276 | $23.21 |
| 6 | Mayo Clinic | $47,220 | $22.70 |
| 7 | IDEXX | $46,282 | $22.25 |
| 8 | Curtiss-Wright | $43,990 | $21.15 |
| 9 | International Paper | $43,280 | $20.81 |
| 10 | Bureau Veritas | $41,362 | $19.89 |
| 11 | Eurofins | $41,318 | $19.86 |
| 12 | Panavision | $40,786 | $19.61 |
| 13 | Charles River Labs | $40,213 | $19.33 |
| 14 | Doctor's Data | $40,186 | $19.32 |
| 15 | BioAgilytix | $40,150 | $19.30 |
| 16 | Biolife Plasma Services | $40,149 | $19.30 |
| 17 | SPL Inc | $40,133 | $19.29 |
| 18 | Custom Truck One Source | $40,130 | $19.29 |
| 19 | Blount Fine Foods | $40,130 | $19.29 |
| 20 | AeroFarms | $40,130 | $19.29 |
The average sample prep technician salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | $46,314 | $22.27 |
| 2 | Health Care | $45,374 | $21.81 |
| 3 | Government | $41,366 | $19.89 |
| 4 | Technology | $41,086 | $19.75 |
| 5 | Manufacturing | $40,678 | $19.56 |
| 6 | Internet | $40,394 | $19.42 |
The average sample prep technician salary has risen by $4,269 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average sample prep technician earned $38,235 annually, but today, they earn $42,504 a year. That works out to a -2% change in pay for sample prep technicians over the last decade.
Compare sample prep technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare sample prep technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $42,500 | $20.43 | +0.4% |
| 2024 | $42,300 | $20.35 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $41,000 | $19.72 | -1.7% |
| 2022 | $41,700 | $20.05 | -4.2% |
| 2021 | $43,500 | $20.89 | +1.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Takeda | Sample Prep | Eau Claire, WI | 06/22/2025 | $35,479 |
| Biolife | Sample Prep | Eau Claire, WI | 06/21/2025 | $35,479 |
| SGS | Sample Login Technician | East Syracuse, NY | 06/21/2025 | $41,740 |
| IEH Laboratories & Consulting Group | Laboratory Sample Prep Technician | Seattle, WA | 06/20/2025 | $43,326 |
| Charles River | Sample Management Technician I | Kane, PA | 06/19/2025 | $43,827 |
| SGS Group | Sample Login Technician | East Syracuse, NY | 06/18/2025 | $41,740 |
| Adecco Us, Inc. | Sample Preparation Technician | Santa Clara, CA | 06/14/2025 | $54,262 |
| Element Materials Technology | Associate Sample Prep Technician (2ND Shift) | Charlotte, NC | 06/12/2025 | $45,914 |
| Exova | Associate Sample Prep Technician (2ND Shift) | Charlotte, NC | 06/12/2025 | $45,914 |
| Job Listingselement Materials Technology | Associate Sample Prep Technician (2ND Shift) | Charlotte, NC | 06/12/2025 | $45,914 |
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