How much does a Lab Technician make?

The average salary for a Lab Technician is $47,210 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 20551 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Lab Technician employees in United States.

The highest salary for a Lab Technician in United States is $56,666 per year.

The lowest salary for a Lab Technician in United States is $39,464 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming a Lab Technician or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Lab Technician.

Working as a laboratory technician allows one to perform challenging and impactful work with intelligent coworkers. Laboratory technicians employed by the federal government or private sector firms generally earn the highest salaries. Laboratory technicians can improve their earnings by returning to school for a doctoral degree, and moving into the position of laboratory scientist.

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Around 61% of lab technicians who anonymously report their salaries Glassdoor are satisfied with their income. People with over two years of experience are more likely to earn a good salary as a lab technician, especially if they advance to a senior or supervisory role.

Lab technicians typically make around $44,884.99 as their base salary, but several variables can affect your income. Lab technician salaries depend on seniority, so learning about common lab technician career paths can help you understand what to expect at every stage. Many technicians receive bonuses and other perks on top of their salaries, with most earning between $33,608.35 and $66,706.49 in total.

Although most employers require a bachelor's degree in laboratory science or another related subject, earning a Bachelor's or Master's degree can help you increase your salary as a lab technician. Degrees in subjects such as medical laboratory technology, clinical laboratory sciences, or laboratory medicine allow you to learn desirable skills and demonstrate advanced knowledge to potential employers.

Specializing in an in-demand field can also improve your employment options and lead to a higher lab technician salary. The ASCP Board of Accreditation is one of the best-known certification bodies and offers qualifications in areas such as cytology, hematology, and molecular biology.

Knowing what employers might ask in a lab technician job interview can increase your chances of landing your ideal position. Once you've found a lab technician job that suits you, it's time to negotiate your salary. Companies will expect you to justify your request, so prepare evidence of how your skills benefited previous employers to make your case convincing. For example, you could outline cost savings from changes you made to inventory management systems.

If there's no wiggle room on your base salary, consider other ways your employer could improve your benefits package. Asking for perks such as enhanced health insurance or extra paid vacation can significantly boost your budget.