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As of October 2025, the average salary for a Senior Laboratory Associate is $63,645 per year. This salary can vary significantly based on several factors including location, years of experience, and industry sector. For example, those in urban areas or specialized industries may earn more than their counterparts in rural settings.
Geographic location plays a crucial role in determining salary levels. States like California and Massachusetts often offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. Additionally, major cities such as San Francisco and Boston are known for their competitive pay in this field.
Senior Laboratory Associates typically find opportunities in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and research institutions. Those with advanced skills or certifications can pursue higher-paying positions, contributing to innovative projects and advancements in laboratory science. This career not only offers competitive salaries but also significant growth potential within the industry.
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The highest-paying states for senior laboratory associates are Massachusetts, Nevada, and Michigan. The lowest average senior laboratory associate salary states are North Carolina, Nebraska, and Montana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $77,990 | $37.50 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $67,734 | $32.56 |
| 3 | Vermont | $65,695 | $31.58 |
| 4 | Michigan | $70,148 | $33.73 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $65,644 | $31.56 |
| 6 | Maine | $65,879 | $31.67 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $69,019 | $33.18 |
| 8 | Nevada | $70,223 | $33.76 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $62,322 | $29.96 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $63,021 | $30.30 |
| 11 | Maryland | $67,428 | $32.42 |
| 12 | New York | $63,739 | $30.64 |
| 13 | Ohio | $62,322 | $29.96 |
| 14 | Oregon | $66,213 | $31.83 |
| 15 | Arkansas | $58,335 | $28.05 |
| 16 | Illinois | $63,026 | $30.30 |
| 17 | Arizona | $59,718 | $28.71 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $66,087 | $31.77 |
| 19 | Delaware | $65,439 | $31.46 |
| 20 | Kansas | $59,192 | $28.46 |
| 21 | Alaska | $60,842 | $29.25 |
| 22 | Indiana | $60,244 | $28.96 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $70,899 | $34.09 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $60,932 | $29.29 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $54,984 | $26.43 |
| 26 | Idaho | $56,371 | $27.10 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $57,088 | $27.45 |
| 28 | Virginia | $63,609 | $30.58 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $55,009 | $26.45 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $62,826 | $30.20 |
| 31 | California | $57,550 | $27.67 |
| 32 | Florida | $56,333 | $27.08 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $58,847 | $28.29 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $56,296 | $27.07 |
| 35 | Connecticut | $58,994 | $28.36 |
| 36 | Missouri | $57,485 | $27.64 |
| 37 | Texas | $57,258 | $27.53 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $54,374 | $26.14 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $56,818 | $27.32 |
| 40 | Utah | $55,341 | $26.61 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $55,485 | $26.68 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $55,173 | $26.53 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $54,850 | $26.37 |
| 44 | Iowa | $50,373 | $24.22 |
| 45 | Georgia | $55,470 | $26.67 |
| 46 | Washington | $51,011 | $24.52 |
| 47 | Montana | $52,090 | $25.04 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $53,851 | $25.89 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $52,956 | $25.46 |
| 50 | Colorado | $53,956 | $25.94 |
| 51 | Alabama | $49,908 | $23.99 |
The highest-paying cities for senior laboratory associates are Boston, MA, Detroit, MI, and Las Vegas, NV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $78,071 | $37.53 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $70,512 | $33.90 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $70,103 | $33.70 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $67,609 | $32.50 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $63,950 | $30.75 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $63,443 | $30.50 |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $63,356 | $30.46 |
| 8 | Evanston, IL | $63,328 | $30.45 |
| 9 | Milwaukee, WI | $62,580 | $30.09 |
| 10 | San Francisco, CA | $60,656 | $29.16 |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | $60,189 | $28.94 |
| 12 | Hartford, CT | $58,999 | $28.36 |
| 13 | Columbia, SC | $58,964 | $28.35 |
| 14 | Little Rock, AR | $58,470 | $28.11 |
| 15 | Houston, TX | $57,833 | $27.80 |
| 16 | Kansas City, MO | $56,908 | $27.36 |
| 17 | Oklahoma City, OK | $56,846 | $27.33 |
| 18 | Hallandale Beach, FL | $56,604 | $27.21 |
| 19 | Minneapolis, MN | $56,367 | $27.10 |
| 20 | New Orleans, LA | $55,640 | $26.75 |
A senior laboratory associate's salary ranges from $45,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $89,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $89,000 | $7,417 | $43 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| Average | $63,645 | $5,304 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
The highest paying types of senior laboratory associates are laboratory manager, medical technologist lead, and clinical laboratory scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Technologist, Generalist | $58,246 | $4,854 | $28.00 | 121,721 |
| Medical Technologist | $53,249 | $4,437 | $25.60 | 116,495 |
| Medical Technologist-Microbiology | $55,441 | $4,620 | $26.65 | 113,355 |
| Medical Technologist Lead | $68,094 | $5,675 | $32.74 | 125,848 |
| Cytogenetic Technologist | $54,242 | $4,520 | $26.08 | 76,373 |
| Medical Laboratory Technologist Internship | $37,088 | $3,091 | $17.83 | 169,421 |
Top companies hiring senior laboratory associates now:
Senior laboratory associate salaries at Parexel International and NorthShore University HealthSystem are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior laboratory associate salary at companies like Mercy College and New York University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parexel International | $94,302 | $45.34 |
| 2 | NorthShore University HealthSystem | $70,551 | $33.92 |
| 3 | Mercy College | $66,411 | $31.93 |
| 4 | New York University | $65,793 | $31.63 |
| 5 | North Shore High School | $64,693 | $31.10 |
| 6 | Alloy Therapeutics | $63,116 | $30.34 |
| 7 | Pwc | $61,899 | $29.76 |
| 8 | Arteriocyte Medical Systems | $61,560 | $29.60 |
| 9 | Algenol Biotech | $60,059 | $28.87 |
| 10 | KPMG LLP | $53,671 | $25.80 |
| 11 | Pomona College | $51,837 | $24.92 |
| 12 | University of Pennsylvania | $49,567 | $23.83 |
| 13 | AVANCE | $45,921 | $22.08 |
The average senior laboratory associate salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $72,378 | $34.80 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $71,897 | $34.57 |
| 3 | Pharmaceutical | $62,799 | $30.19 |
| 4 | Education | $53,744 | $25.84 |
The average senior laboratory associate salary has risen by $7,969 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior laboratory associate earned $55,676 annually, but today, they earn $63,645 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for senior laboratory associates over the last decade.
Compare senior laboratory associate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare senior laboratory associate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $63,600 | $30.60 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | $61,900 | $29.77 | -0.7% |
| 2024 | $62,400 | $29.98 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $60,800 | $29.24 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $59,600 | $28.67 | +0.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Cincinnati | Senior Lab Associate, Build LAB, College of Daap | Cincinnati, OH | 06/14/2025 | $50,088 |
| Doordash | Senior Associate, Autonomy Technical Support, Labs | Tempe, AZ | 06/09/2025 | $74,700 |
| Doordash | Senior Associate, Autonomy Technical Support, Labs | Tempe, AZ | 05/26/2025 | $74,700 |
| Pfizer | Senior Associate, Digital Laboratory Solutions | Groton, CT | 05/12/2025 | $77,100 |
| Guardant Health | Senior Clinical Laboratory Associate | Redwood City, CA | 05/11/2025 | $87,696 |
| Pfizer | Senior Associate, Digital Laboratory Solutions | Bothell, WA | 05/08/2025 | $77,100 |
| Pfizer | Senior Associate, Digital Laboratory Solutions | Cambridge, MA | 05/05/2025 | $77,100 |
| Doordash | Senior Associate, Autonomy Technical Support, Labs | Tempe, AZ | 04/30/2025 | $74,700 |
| Idexx Laboratories | R&D Clinical Research Senior Lab Associate | Westbrook, ME | 04/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Stryker | Senior Lab Associate | Denver, CO | 04/11/2025 | $69,100 |
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