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Academic Lab Technician Salary in the United States

How much does an Academic Lab Technician make in the United States? As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Academic Lab Technician in the United States is $63,408 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

However, an Academic Lab Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $79,284
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $56,985 to $71,718
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,137
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Check out Academic Lab Technician Job Openings in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Academic Lab Technician Salaries

An Academic Lab Technician's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Academic Lab Technician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Academic Lab Technician's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $61,198
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $61,908
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $63,639
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $63,985
  • Expert (over 8 years): $64,216
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Entry Level Academic Lab Technician less than 1 year $61,198
Early Career Level Academic Lab Technician 1-2 years $61,908
Mid-Level Level Academic Lab Technician 2-4 years $63,639
Senior-Level Level Academic Lab Technician 5-8 years $63,985
Expert Level Academic Lab Technician over 8 years $64,216

How Do Academic Lab Technician Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Academic Lab Technicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $70,206.
  • California: $69,939.
  • Massachusetts: $69,007.

Top Paying Cities for Academic Lab Technician

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $79,977
  • San Francisco: $79,101
  • Oakland: $77,434

Academic Lab Technician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Academic Lab Technician roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Transportation and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Academic Lab Technician positions in Telecom or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Academic Lab Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Academic Lab Technician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Transportation $95,112 $46.0 50%
Software & Networking $91,942 $44.0 45%
MFG Durable $88,772 $43.0 40%
Pharmaceuticals $85,601 $41.0 35%
Internet $82,431 $40.0 30%

How Education impacts an Academic Lab Technician's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Academic Lab Technician professionals enter the field with a high school degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Academic Lab Technician with a high school is between $55,440 and $59,546.

Academic Lab Technician Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Academic Lab Technician
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Degree 3.1%
High School 56.3%
Associate's Degree 21.9%
Bachelor's Degree 18.8%
Master's Degree or MBA 0%
JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 0%
View as Graph

Academic Lab Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Academic Lab Technician's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$56,985
Average $63,408/year
$71,718
$4,749
Average $5,284/month
$5,977
$1,096
Average $1,219/week
$1,379
$27
Average $30/hour
$34
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $71,718 $5,977 $1,379 $34
Average $63,408 $5,284 $1,219 $30
25th Percentile $56,985 $4,749 $1,096 $27

Most common benefits for Academic Lab Technician

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Academic Lab Technician

Here are companies hiring for Academic Lab Technician and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Academic Lab Technician Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Academic Lab Technician job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

  • IDEXX Laboratories | Columbus, OH

    Medical Lab Technician

    IDEXX Laboratories | Columbus, OH

    Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT). As a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) at IDEXX, you will be a key contributor at one of the largest veterinary diag... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Vertiv Group Corp. | Columbus, OH

    HVAC Lab Technician

    Vertiv Group Corp. | Columbus, OH

    Job DescriptionPosition Summary:The HVAC Lab Technician is an intermediate level position for testing with sufficient experience to handle most assignments... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Tailored Management Services | Columbus, OH

    HVAC Lab Technician

    Tailored Management Services | Columbus, OH

    HVAC Lab Technician. Location: 1050 Dearborn Dr, Columbus, OH 43085 Duration: 6-month contract starting M-F, full-time (40 hours). W2 Pay: $33.55/hr. Hours... more

    6 Days Ago

  • CTL Engineering | Columbus, OH

    Soils Lab Technician

    CTL Engineering | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. CTL Engineering is hiring for a. Lab Technician / Geologist.  for our Soils Lab. Entry level/new grads in Geology are enc... more

    2 Days Ago

  • Nationwide Childrens Hospital | Columbus, OH

    Biorepository Lab Technician

    Nationwide Childrens Hospital | Columbus, OH

    Job Title. Position hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 6:30pm. Job Description. Collects, processes, and stores biological specimens for laboratory testing ... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Trinity Health | Columbus, OH

    Medical Technologist or Medical Lab Technician

    Trinity Health | Columbus, OH

    Medical Lab Technician Or Medical Technologist - Night Shift. Employment Type: Part time. Shift: Night Shift. Position Purpose: Medical Lab Techs and Medic... more

    3 Days Ago

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FAQ about Academic Lab Technician

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Academic Lab Technician?

The Transportation industry offers the highest average compensation for Academic Lab Technician roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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