Salary AI Book a Demo

Laboratory Animal Technician Salary in the United States

How much does a Laboratory Animal Technician make in the United States? As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Laboratory Animal Technician in the United States is $43,575 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $21.

However, a Laboratory Animal Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $51,099
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $39,770 to $47,513
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $36,307
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Check out Laboratory Animal Technician Job Openings in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Laboratory Animal Technician Salaries

A Laboratory Animal 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 Laboratory Animal Technician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Laboratory Animal 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): $42,023
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $42,864
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $44,395
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $44,559
  • Expert (over 8 years): $44,669
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Entry Level Laboratory Animal Technician less than 1 year $42,023
Early Career Level Laboratory Animal Technician 1-2 years $42,864
Mid-Level Level Laboratory Animal Technician 2-4 years $44,395
Senior-Level Level Laboratory Animal Technician 5-8 years $44,559
Expert Level Laboratory Animal Technician over 8 years $44,669

How Do Laboratory Animal 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 Laboratory Animal Technicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $48,246.
  • California: $48,063.
  • Massachusetts: $47,422.

Top Paying Cities for Laboratory Animal 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: $54,961
  • San Francisco: $54,359
  • Oakland: $53,213

Laboratory Animal Technician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Laboratory Animal Technician roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Chemicals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Laboratory Animal Technician positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Pharmaceuticals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Laboratory Animal Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Laboratory Animal Technician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare $56,647 $27.0 30%
Chemicals $47,932 $23.0 10%

How Education impacts a Laboratory Animal Technician's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Laboratory Animal 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 a Laboratory Animal Technician with a high school is between $40,851 and $41,957.

Laboratory Animal Technician Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Laboratory Animal Technician
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Degree 1.3%
High School 30%
Associate's Degree 33.2%
Bachelor's Degree 29.7%
Master's Degree or MBA 4.8%
JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 1%
View as Graph

Laboratory Animal Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Laboratory Animal 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
$39,770
Average $43,575/year
$47,513
$3,314
Average $3,631/month
$3,959
$765
Average $838/week
$914
$19
Average $21/hour
$23
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $47,513 $3,959 $914 $23
Average $43,575 $3,631 $838 $21
25th Percentile $39,770 $3,314 $765 $19

Most common benefits for Laboratory Animal Technician

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

Common company salaries for Laboratory Animal Technician

Here are companies hiring for Laboratory Animal Technician and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Laboratory Animal Technician Job

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

  • Hanley Energy | Ashburn, VA

    Field Service Technician

    Hanley Energy | Ashburn, VA

    This position is eligible for a sign-on bonus. Bonus amount and payment terms will be discussed during the recruitment process and are subject to applicabl... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Hanley Energy | Ashburn, VA

    Mechanical Field Engineer

    Hanley Energy | Ashburn, VA

    This position is eligible for a sign-on bonus. Bonus amount and payment terms will be discussed during the recruitment process and are subject to applicabl... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Hanley Energy | Ashburn, VA

    Field Service Engineer

    Hanley Energy | Ashburn, VA

    This position is eligible for a sign-on bonus. Bonus amount and payment terms will be discussed during the recruitment process and are subject to applicabl... more

    4 Days Ago

  • CyLogic | Ashburn, VA

    SVP Revenue Growth

    CyLogic | Ashburn, VA

    A Leadership Opportunity to Shape the Next Phase of Growth. CyLogic is seeking an experienced revenue leader to oversee Sales and Marketing, strengthen go-... more

    5 Days Ago

  • ProspectBlue | Ashburn, VA

    Staff Accountant

    ProspectBlue | Ashburn, VA

    ProspectBlue is partnering with a well-established and growing organization in Ashburn, VA to identify a Staff Accountant to join its corporate accounting ... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Morcom International, Inc. | Ashburn, VA

    Senior Account

    Morcom International, Inc. | Ashburn, VA

    About the Opportunity. ACG Systems is a mission-critical communications platform. Through Morcom, an ACG Systems company, we design, deploy, and support wi... more

    5 Days Ago

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Laboratory Animal Technician

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Laboratory Animal Technician?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Laboratory Animal Technician roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst