How much does a lab technician make?
Answer: A typical lab technician in the United States makes $62,930 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 333,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Lab technician pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $38,910 | $62,930 | $100,990 | about 333,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $97,280 | about 16,000 |
| Oregon | $83,010 | about 3,000 |
| New Hampshire | $81,020 | about 800 |
| Massachusetts | $79,120 | about 11,000 |
| District of Columbia | $76,560 | about 960 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience, certification or a state-required license, the employer and location, and whether someone handles specialized or more complex tests. Hospital jobs may include night, weekend, or holiday shifts, and some workplaces offer extra pay for those hours.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a lab technician do?
What's a typical day like?
They test blood, urine, or tissue samples using microscopes and automated analyzers. Then they check for unusual results, record findings for doctors, and may work nights or weekends in hospitals.
How to get this job
Study biology, chemistry, and math in high school, then get an associate degree for technician work or usually a bachelor's in lab science for technologist work, with clinical practice. Some states require a license, and certification exams are available.
Did you know?
Some lab specialists examine cells on slides under a microscope to spot changes that may signal the start of cancer.
What about Japan?
Nearly the same jobThe US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.
Earn more in the same field
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.ascp.org/boc/explore-credentials/view-all-credentials/MLS
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY