Best states for a test laboratory technician

Q: What is the best state for test laboratory technicians?

The best state to be a test laboratory technician is Maine based on test laboratory technician salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for test laboratory technicians?

The highest paying state for test laboratory technicians is Iowa based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for test laboratory technicians?

The worst state for test laboratory technicians is Oklahoma, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Dr. Rainer Glaser

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It seems like test laboratory technicians are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for test laboratory technicians aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research found that Maine is the best state for test laboratory technicians, while Maine and New Jersey are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Maine has a median salary of $70,783 and Maine has the highest median salary among all 50 states for test laboratory technicians.

To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for test laboratory technicians.Maine is the best state, and South Portland is the city with the highest pay for test laboratory technicians.

10 best states for test laboratory technicians in 2025

1. Maine
Total test laboratory technician jobs: 411
Average annual salary: $70,783
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000
Location Quotient:
1.43
Test laboratory technician jobs in Maine
2. New Hampshire
Total test laboratory technician jobs: 465
Average annual salary: $66,170
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000
Location Quotient:
1.22
Test laboratory technician jobs in New Hampshire
3. Massachusetts
Total test laboratory technician jobs: 2,276
Average annual salary: $66,637
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Test laboratory technician jobs in Massachusetts
4. New Jersey
Total test laboratory technician jobs: 1,920
Average annual salary: $68,264
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
Test laboratory technician jobs in New Jersey
5. New York
Total test laboratory technician jobs: 3,510
Average annual salary: $63,087
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000
Location Quotient:
1.26
Test laboratory technician jobs in New York
6. Vermont
Total test laboratory technician jobs: 195
Average annual salary: $61,317
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000
Location Quotient:
1.17
Test laboratory technician jobs in Vermont
7. West Virginia
Total test laboratory technician jobs: 326
Average annual salary: $62,357
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000
Location Quotient:
0.98
Test laboratory technician jobs in West Virginia
8. Alaska
Total test laboratory technician jobs: 221
Average annual salary: $59,746
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000
Location Quotient:
1.22
Test laboratory technician jobs in Alaska
9. Connecticut
Total test laboratory technician jobs: 739
Average annual salary: $62,020
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000
Location Quotient:
1.03
Test laboratory technician jobs in Connecticut
10. Rhode Island
Total test laboratory technician jobs: 241
Average annual salary: $65,896
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Test laboratory technician jobs in Rhode Island

Test laboratory technician jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a test laboratory technician

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a test laboratory technician

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Maine	$70,783	$46,000	1,335,907	411
2	New Hampshire	$66,170	$42,000	1,342,795	465
3	Massachusetts	$66,637	$42,000	6,859,819	2,276
4	New Jersey	$68,264	$43,000	9,005,644	1,920
5	New York	$63,087	$39,000	19,849,399	3,510
6	Vermont	$61,317	$39,000	623,657	195
7	West Virginia	$62,357	$40,000	1,815,857	326
8	Alaska	$59,746	$51,000	739,795	221
9	Connecticut	$62,020	$39,000	3,588,184	739
10	Rhode Island	$65,896	$42,000	1,059,639	241
11	Ohio	$56,147	$36,000	11,658,609	2,173
12	Delaware	$67,316	$42,000	961,939	208
13	North Carolina	$57,028	$36,000	10,273,419	2,009
14	Arizona	$52,518	$36,000	7,016,270	1,416
15	Maryland	$56,265	$35,000	6,052,177	1,616
16	Pennsylvania	$54,818	$34,000	12,805,537	2,561
17	California	$60,557	$41,000	39,536,653	6,240
18	District of Columbia	$70,368	$44,000	693,972	237
19	Michigan	$49,742	$32,000	9,962,311	2,061
20	Louisiana	$55,404	$36,000	4,684,333	663
21	Nevada	$51,537	$35,000	2,998,039	456
22	Texas	$56,097	$37,000	28,304,596	3,720
23	Virginia	$56,778	$35,000	8,470,020	1,792
24	Wisconsin	$49,254	$34,000	5,795,483	1,135
25	Minnesota	$48,430	$34,000	5,576,606	1,428
26	Washington	$50,061	$36,000	7,405,743	1,506
27	Florida	$45,840	$30,000	20,984,400	4,183
28	North Dakota	$44,988	$33,000	755,393	222
29	Utah	$46,638	$34,000	3,101,833	658
30	Indiana	$43,570	$29,000	6,666,818	1,511
31	Hawaii	$52,437	$45,000	1,427,538	172
32	Mississippi	$45,056	$30,000	2,984,100	430
33	Colorado	$45,857	$33,000	5,607,154	1,309
34	Tennessee	$43,763	$29,000	6,715,984	1,176
35	Alabama	$42,893	$28,000	4,874,747	922
36	South Dakota	$40,880	$30,000	869,666	260
37	Kansas	$44,054	$31,000	2,913,123	600
38	Illinois	$46,552	$32,000	12,802,023	2,241
39	South Carolina	$41,504	$27,000	5,024,369	968
40	New Mexico	$43,326	$30,000	2,088,070	385
41	Iowa	$39,828	$28,000	3,145,711	868
42	Wyoming	$42,936	$31,000	579,315	113
43	Nebraska	$43,589	$31,000	1,920,076	362
44	Idaho	$43,180	$32,000	1,716,943	309
45	Georgia	$42,831	$28,000	10,429,379	1,916
46	Montana	$41,972	$32,000	1,050,493	229
47	Missouri	$42,308	$29,000	6,113,532	1,106
48	Arkansas	$41,529	$28,000	3,004,279	479
49	Oregon	$43,631	$31,000	4,142,776	765
50	Kentucky	$40,947	$27,000	4,454,189	691
51	Oklahoma	$40,364	$28,000	3,930,864	582

Highest paying states for test laboratory technicians

Rank	State	Avg. Test Laboratory Technician Salary
1	Maine	$70,783
2	New Hampshire	$66,170
3	Massachusetts	$66,637
4	New Jersey	$68,264
5	New York	$63,087
6	Vermont	$61,317
7	West Virginia	$62,357
8	Alaska	$59,746
9	Connecticut	$62,020
10	Rhode Island	$65,896
11	Ohio	$56,147
12	Delaware	$67,316
13	North Carolina	$57,028
14	Arizona	$52,518
15	Maryland	$56,265
16	Pennsylvania	$54,818
17	California	$60,557
18	District of Columbia	$70,368
19	Michigan	$49,742
20	Louisiana	$55,404
21	Nevada	$51,537
22	Texas	$56,097
23	Virginia	$56,778
24	Wisconsin	$49,254
25	Minnesota	$48,430
26	Washington	$50,061
27	Florida	$45,840
28	North Dakota	$44,988
29	Utah	$46,638
30	Indiana	$43,570
31	Hawaii	$52,437
32	Mississippi	$45,056
33	Colorado	$45,857
34	Tennessee	$43,763
35	Alabama	$42,893
36	South Dakota	$40,880
37	Kansas	$44,054
38	Illinois	$46,552
39	South Carolina	$41,504
40	New Mexico	$43,326
41	Iowa	$39,828
42	Wyoming	$42,936
43	Nebraska	$43,589
44	Idaho	$43,180
45	Georgia	$42,831
46	Montana	$41,972
47	Missouri	$42,308
48	Arkansas	$41,529
49	Oregon	$43,631
50	Kentucky	$40,947
51	Oklahoma	$40,364

Expert opinions on the best states for test laboratory technicians

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for test laboratory technicians to find work opportunities?
Dr. Rainer Glaser
Professor and Chair, Missouri University of Science and Technology
There are a few classic hubs of "big commodities chemistry" and "big pharma", for example. Interestingly, the chemistry enterprise constantly spawns new specializations and keeps getting more de-centralized with excellent employment opportunities in every state.

Test laboratory technician best states FAQs

What is the best state for test laboratory technicians?

What is the highest paying state for test laboratory technicians?

What is the worst state for test laboratory technicians?

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Best states for Test Laboratory Technicians

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total test laboratory technician jobs:	411
Average annual salary:	$70,783
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$46,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$107,000
Location Quotient:	1.43

Best states for a test laboratory technician

10 best states for test laboratory technicians in 2025

1. Maine

2. New Hampshire

3. Massachusetts

4. New Jersey

5. New York

6. Vermont

7. West Virginia

8. Alaska

9. Connecticut

10. Rhode Island