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Scientific technician salary
Average scientific technician salary
$40,956
Understanding the Salary of a Scientific Technician
The scientific technician role is integral to many industries, including pharmaceuticals, environmental agencies, and academic research. As of October 2025, the average salary for a scientific technician stands at $40,956 annually. Compensation varies not only by geographical location but also by the technician's level of experience. Entry-level positions may offer lower salaries, while those with several years of experience can see substantial increases.
Salary Variation by State
Different states exhibit significant variations in scientific technician salaries. For instance, states like California and Massachusetts tend to offer higher salaries, driven by the demand for skilled technicians in high-tech and research-driven environments. Conversely, states with fewer tech opportunities may present lower salary averages.
Experience and Salary Growth
Experience plays a pivotal role in salary determination. Scientific technicians with advanced expertise or specializations can command salaries that exceed the average significantly. For example, those advancing into supervisory or specialized roles may earn salaries upwards of $60,000 annually. Job seekers should consider both their current skills and potential for growth when evaluating salary expectations.
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Where can a Scientific Technician earn more?
Scientific technician salaries by experience level
Scientific technician salary estimates from across the web
Average scientific technician salary by state
The highest-paying states for scientific technicians are California, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The lowest average scientific technician salary states are Alabama, Indiana, and North Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for scientific technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $53,623 | $25.78 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $53,970 | $25.95 |
| 3 | New York | $51,364 | $24.69 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $52,264 | $25.13 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $47,568 | $22.87 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $52,269 | $25.13 |
| 7 | Maryland | $47,759 | $22.96 |
| 8 | Maine | $38,696 | $18.60 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $42,267 | $20.32 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | $40,320 | $19.38 |
| 11 | Illinois | $39,402 | $18.94 |
| 12 | California | $54,799 | $26.35 |
| 13 | Delaware | $39,747 | $19.11 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $42,538 | $20.45 |
| 15 | Texas | $43,427 | $20.88 |
| 16 | Florida | $39,856 | $19.16 |
| 17 | Arkansas | $38,873 | $18.69 |
| 18 | Arizona | $39,134 | $18.81 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $35,921 | $17.27 |
| 20 | Oregon | $42,153 | $20.27 |
| 21 | Missouri | $36,009 | $17.31 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $34,460 | $16.57 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $37,783 | $18.16 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $35,921 | $17.27 |
| 25 | Michigan | $35,332 | $16.99 |
| 26 | Iowa | $35,846 | $17.23 |
| 27 | Vermont | $34,609 | $16.64 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $42,019 | $20.20 |
| 29 | Virginia | $38,233 | $18.38 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $34,309 | $16.49 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $34,694 | $16.68 |
| 32 | Utah | $37,025 | $17.80 |
| 33 | Alaska | $32,655 | $15.70 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $33,607 | $16.16 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $36,494 | $17.55 |
| 36 | Ohio | $33,324 | $16.02 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $32,415 | $15.58 |
| 38 | Nevada | $35,391 | $17.01 |
| 39 | Washington | $35,588 | $17.11 |
| 40 | Georgia | $33,239 | $15.98 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $29,695 | $14.28 |
| 42 | Kansas | $31,418 | $15.10 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $33,418 | $16.07 |
| 44 | Colorado | $31,643 | $15.21 |
| 45 | Idaho | $31,530 | $15.16 |
| 46 | Alabama | $29,490 | $14.18 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $26,860 | $12.91 |
| 48 | Indiana | $28,375 | $13.64 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $26,939 | $12.95 |
| 50 | North Dakota | $27,402 | $13.17 |
| 51 | Montana | $26,784 | $12.88 |
Highest paying cities for scientific technicians
The highest-paying cities for scientific technicians are Bethesda, MD, Philadelphia, PA, and Reston, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bethesda, MD | $47,165 | $22.68 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $42,882 | $20.62 |
| 3 | Reston, VA | $39,674 | $19.07 |
| 4 | Tucson, AZ | $38,739 | $18.62 |
| 5 | Tooele, UT | $37,272 | $17.92 |
| 6 | Olympia, WA | $36,459 | $17.53 |
| 7 | Madison, WI | $35,504 | $17.07 |
| 8 | Alpharetta, GA | $32,966 | $15.85 |
| 9 | Dothan, AL | $30,318 | $14.58 |
Scientific technician salary details
A scientific technician's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $58,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a scientific technician's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| 75th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| Average | $40,956 | $3,413 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
Highest paying scientific technician jobs
The highest paying types of scientific technicians are research and development technician, research assistant, chemistry department, and pilot plant technician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory Internship | $35,305 | $2,942 | $16.97 | 90,970 |
| Microbiological Laboratory Technician | $38,713 | $3,226 | $18.61 | 44,567 |
| Research Laboratory Technician | $38,308 | $3,192 | $18.42 | 86,476 |
| Biology Laboratory Technician | $38,514 | $3,209 | $18.52 | 45,470 |
| Research And Development Technician | $83,552 | $6,963 | $40.17 | 111,268 |
| Microbiology Technician | $40,084 | $3,340 | $19.27 | 25,704 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for scientific technicians, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Shailesh Lal
Professor, Oakland University
Top companies hiring scientific technicians now:
Which companies pay scientific technicians the most?
Scientific technician salaries at Jacobs Engineering Group and Cancer Research Institute are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average scientific technician salary at companies like Promega and n-Link are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $65,910 | $31.69 |
| 2 | Cancer Research Institute | $54,680 | $26.29 |
| 3 | Promega | $53,373 | $25.66 |
| 4 | n-Link | $49,042 | $23.58 |
| 5 | Fox Chase Cancer Center | $45,963 | $22.10 |
| 6 | TRAX International | $44,416 | $21.35 |
| 7 | Lasertel | $44,325 | $21.31 |
| 8 | Kerry Holding Co. | $44,235 | $21.27 |
| 9 | The Care of Trees | $44,235 | $21.27 |
| 10 | Jacobs Enterprises | $44,222 | $21.26 |
| 11 | Kelly Services | $40,917 | $19.67 |
| 12 | University of Washington | $39,894 | $19.18 |
| 13 | Washington State University | $36,255 | $17.43 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Scientific Technician salary by industry
The average scientific technician salary varies across industries:
- The average scientific technician salary in the pharmaceutical industry is $64,757, the highest of any industry.
- The average scientific technician salary in the finance industry is $58,832.
- Scientific technicians in the retail industry earn an average salary of $39,749, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for scientific technicians
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pharmaceutical | $64,757 | $31.13 |
| 2 | Energy | $58,832 | $28.28 |
| 3 | Health Care | $51,209 | $24.62 |
| 4 | Technology | $46,397 | $22.31 |
| 5 | Manufacturing | $45,771 | $22.01 |
| 6 | Professional | $44,260 | $21.28 |
| 7 | Government | $43,921 | $21.12 |
| 8 | Retail | $39,749 | $19.11 |
High paying scientific technician jobs
Scientific technician salary trends
The average scientific technician salary has risen by $6,063 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average scientific technician earned $34,893 annually, but today, they earn $40,956 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for scientific technicians over the last decade.
Compare scientific technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average scientific technician salary over time
Compare scientific technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Scientific technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $41,000 | $19.69 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $40,500 | $19.49 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | $39,300 | $18.91 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $38,700 | $18.61 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $37,600 | $18.07 | +2.0% |
Recently added scientific technician salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Washington | Creel Surveyor-Scientific Technician 2-Non-Permanent | Ione, WA | 06/25/2025 | $41,724 |
| Spectrum Staffing Services/Hrstaffers Inc. | Scientific Technologist | Lakeland, FL | 06/13/2025 | $70,000 |
| 3 Amigos Recruiting | Scientific Technician (TSU) In USA-FC | Mechanicsburg, PA | 06/10/2025 | $41,740 |
| Spectrum Staffing Services/Hrstaffers Inc. | Scientific Technologist | Lakeland, FL | 05/29/2025 | $70,000 |
| Manpowergroup | Tech 3, Scientific Operations | Maryland | 05/17/2025 | $41,740 |
| A-Line Staffing Solutions | Tech 3, Scientific Operations | Maryland | 05/13/2025 | $43,577 |
| 3 Amigos Recruiting | Scientific Technician (TSU) In USA-FC | Mechanicsburg, PA | 04/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| State of Washington | South Sound Anemone Scientific Technician, SCI Tech 1 | Olympia, WA | 04/24/2025 | $33,312 |
| 3 Amigos Recruiting | Scientific Technician (TSU) In USA-FC | Mechanicsburg, PA | 03/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Sea-Bird Electronics | SEA Bird Scientific-PCB Technician | Bellevue, WA | 03/14/2025 | $85,000 |
Scientific technician salary FAQs
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