Lab technicians run laboratory tests to identify and quantify substances. Environmental lab technicians test for contaminants that affect the environment and the health of humans and wildlife. Some lab technicians may collect samples from the field. They may work under other job titles like environmental technician, environmental specialist, laboratory specialist, and environmental health specialist.
What Does a Lab Technician Do?
Lab technicians prepare and test samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, and other materials to determine pollutant levels or identify sources of contamination. They usually specialize in either indoor lab testing work, or sample collection from the field. Technicians working in labs use a variety of testing methods and equipment that they must calibrate. They record, report, and summarize the data from test results, and discuss them with supervisors or customers. Some even develop testing procedures or direct other lab workers. Lab technicians working in the field may also design monitoring programs and set up monitoring equipment.
They usually do their work at the direction of environmental scientists or engineers, who review the work and use the results to develop cleanup procedures, make policy recommendations, or confirm that a site has been successfully remediated.
Where Does a Lab Technician Work?
Most environmental lab technicians work for state or local governments, testing laboratories, or consulting firms. Those specializing in lab work spend most of their time indoors in labs and offices, while those who work in field collection spend most of their time outdoors in all kinds of environments and all kinds of weather, investigating everything from urban factory sites to remote rivers and lakes. Fieldwork can involve a lot of walking, standing, carrying, and lifting.
Environmental lab technicians typically work full time. Technicians working in the field may sometimes need to work long or irregular hours.
What Is the Average Lab Technician Salary?
Environmental science and protection technicians earned an average of $41, 240 in May 2012. At $44, 720, those employed in local government earned the highest salaries, while those in state government earned $41, 390. Lab technicians providing management, scientific, and technical consulting services earned $40, 330, while those working in engineering services made $39, 040. Technicians working for testing laboratories earned an average of $36, 680.
| State | Total Employment | Bottom 25% | Median Salary | Top 75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 660 | $32, 300 | $39, 800 | $52, 090 |
| Alaska | 220 | $29, 610 | $39, 610 | $49, 570 |
| Arizona | 700 | $38, 550 | $44, 590 | $53, 290 |
| Arkansas | 190 | $30, 190 | $36, 680 | $49, 740 |
| California | 3, 690 | $34, 760 | $46, 110 | $62, 920 |
| Colorado | 1, 050 | $35, 730 | $45, 190 | $56, 870 |
| Connecticut | 350 | $35, 580 | $46, 070 | $67, 320 |
| Delaware | $28, 850 | $34, 750 | $40, 090 | |
| District of Columbia | 330 | $22, 670 | $27, 000 | $51, 700 |
| Florida | 1, 780 | $31, 330 | $34, 520 | $39, 640 |
| Georgia | 540 | $34, 190 | $41, 050 | $54, 820 |
| Hawaii | $29, 940 | $40, 410 | $50, 450 | |
| Idaho | $40, 840 | $49, 180 | $68, 140 | |
| Illinois | 1, 170 | $32, 190 | $42, 730 | $56, 790 |
| Indiana | 570 | $30, 780 | $36, 980 | $47, 120 |
| Iowa | 320 | $32, 220 | $38, 820 | $47, 220 |
| Kansas | $33, 970 | $44, 450 | $58, 680 | |
| Kentucky | 450 | $36, 910 | $42, 610 | $55, 460 |
| Louisiana | 390 | $25, 090 | $35, 970 | $47, 680 |
| Maine | 160 | $30, 630 | $36, 470 | $42, 520 |
| Maryland | 530 | $40, 220 | $51, 580 | $61, 440 |
| Massachusetts | 1, 110 | $30, 330 | $36, 380 | $45, 610 |
| Michigan | 920 | $33, 480 | $42, 260 | $51, 470 |
| Minnesota | 440 | $35, 540 | $42, 880 | $51, 900 |
| Mississippi | $33, 500 | $37, 870 | $46, 750 | |
| Missouri | 300 | $30, 470 | $42, 410 | $52, 400 |
| Montana | 130 | $33, 570 | $39, 870 | $45, 320 |
| Nebraska | 170 | $36, 030 | $50, 140 | $62, 870 |
| Nevada | $39, 580 | $62, 630 | $76, 460 | |
| New Hampshire | 240 | $32, 530 | $37, 590 | $45, 550 |
| New Jersey | $31, 790 | $50, 610 | ||
| New Mexico | 230 | $37, 150 | $45, 640 | $56, 250 |
| New York | 2, 470 | $33, 410 | $43, 810 | $56, 090 |
| North Carolina | $29, 910 | $38, 000 | $47, 380 | |
| North Dakota | 180 | $29, 250 | $37, 320 | $47, 110 |
| Ohio | 1, 140 | $32, 500 | $40, 120 | $48, 880 |
| Oklahoma | 480 | $23, 110 | $34, 600 | $54, 360 |
| Oregon | 310 | $41, 370 | $51, 080 | $58, 470 |
| Pennsylvania | 1, 620 | $32, 880 | $39, 540 | $50, 960 |
| Puerto Rico | 120 | $20, 750 | $25, 790 | $43, 670 |
| Rhode Island | 40 | $46, 430 | $56, 620 | $61, 090 |
| South Carolina | 790 | $40, 730 | $63, 650 | $69, 790 |
| South Dakota | 100 | $24, 850 | $26, 900 | $28, 940 |
| Tennessee | 910 | $38, 250 | $45, 990 | $57, 940 |
| Texas | 2, 820 | $30, 840 | $49, 280 | |
| Utah | 420 | $37, 140 | $46, 050 | $59, 760 |
| Vermont | 70 | $37, 090 | $43, 710 | $50, 280 |
| Virginia | 610 | $34, 810 | $43, 230 | $56, 480 |
| Washington | 1, 160 | $38, 600 | $53, 420 | $72, 290 |
| West Virginia | 380 | $28, 690 | $36, 210 | $45, 430 |
| Wisconsin | 670 | $32, 810 | $39, 960 | $52, 800 |
| Wyoming | 140 | $33, 270 | $39, 210 | $50, 940 |
Table data taken from BLS (
Lab Technician Jobs
Found across the various scientific disciplines, lab technician jobs require a solid foundation of scientific skills and a readiness to work in a methodical and disciplined manner in order to advance scientific knowledge. While jobs vary significantly, most lab technicians find these types of tasks within the scope of their duties:RELATED VIDEO
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