What Does a Lab Technician Do?
A lab technician prepares samples, performs routine tests on instruments, records results, and keeps the laboratory’s equipment and supplies in working order. Lab technicians work in hospital and reference clinical labs, environmental and water testing labs, food and pharmaceutical quality control labs, and university research labs. They follow written procedures, handle samples safely, and flag results outside expected ranges for a scientist or technologist to review. Most employers require an associate degree in a laboratory science or 1 or more years of lab experience, and clinical labs usually require a state license or national certification.
The title sits in the middle of a 4-rung ladder, and employers mix the rungs up constantly. At the bottom, a laboratory assistant or specimen processor receives, labels, and centrifuges samples without performing tests. A lab technician performs tests under supervision. A medical laboratory technician (MLT) holds an associate degree and ASCP certification and performs moderate and high complexity clinical testing. A medical technologist (MT or MLS) holds a bachelor’s degree, performs the most complex tests, and validates methods. Outside healthcare, a laboratory analyst is the bachelor’s-level chemist or microbiologist who reviews the technician’s data and signs the report.
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Hiring a Lab Technician: What to Expect
Clinical lab technician candidates come from MLT programs, from phlebotomy and specimen processing jobs, and from military medical laboratory specialties; environmental and QC technicians come from biology and chemistry programs, food plants, and water utilities. Screen for the instruments the candidate has operated unsupervised, for how they handled an out-of-range control or a failed calibration, and for pipetting and dilution skill (a 5-minute practical with a pipette and a balance tells you more than the resume). Ask what they do when a procedure says one thing and a supervisor says another, because the answer shows whether they understand why SOPs exist.
A frequent problem in lab technician postings is using the generic title for a job that legally requires an MLT or MLS, which brings in applicants who cannot do the work and screens out certified candidates who search by their credential. If the role performs moderate or high complexity testing under CLIA, title it medical laboratory technician and state the certification. If it is an environmental, food, or manufacturing lab, say which methods and instruments the person will use and whether the lab is accredited under ISO 17025, NELAP, or cGMP.
A posting for this role should state whether the work is waived, moderate, or high complexity testing under CLIA, because the complexity decides whether the person needs MLT certification and a state license. For industrial, environmental, and research labs, name the instruments the person will operate unsupervised, such as GC-MS, ICP-MS, HPLC, or a plate reader.
On healthcare searches, 4 Corner Resources submits qualified candidates in an average of 4.5 days, clients interview an average of 1.46 candidates per hire, and we submit 1.85 candidates per hire.
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Lab Technician Core Responsibilities
- Receive, log, and prepare samples or specimens for testing, including labeling, aliquoting, centrifuging, and storage at the required temperature
- Perform routine tests following standard operating procedures on analyzers and instruments such as chemistry and hematology analyzers, spectrophotometers, pH meters, HPLC, or GC-MS
- Prepare reagents, media, standards, and buffers, and record lot numbers and expiration dates
- Conduct daily quality control checks and instrument calibration, document the results, and stop testing when a control fails
- Record results in the laboratory information system (LIS or LIMS) and report values outside expected limits to the supervisor or scientist
- Review results held by LIS autoverification rules or flagged by digital morphology systems such as CellaVision, and refer them to a technologist or scientist
- Perform preventive maintenance on instruments, troubleshoot common errors, and call the vendor for service when needed
- Maintain inventory of reagents and consumables and reorder before stock is gone
- Follow chemical hygiene, biosafety, and waste disposal rules, and keep safety data sheets current
- Keep bench notebooks, batch records, or chain-of-custody forms complete enough to pass an audit
- Assist scientists or technologists with method validation, new instrument setup, and proficiency testing
Required Skills and Qualifications
Hard skills
- Accurate pipetting, weighing, dilution, and solution preparation
- Hands-on experience with the lab’s instrument class: clinical analyzers, chromatography, spectroscopy, PCR, or microbiology culture
- Working knowledge of quality control principles, including Levey-Jennings charts and Westgard rules in clinical labs
- Experience entering and retrieving data in a LIS or LIMS, such as Epic Beaker, LabWare, or STARLIMS
- Ability to follow SOPs exactly and document deviations
- Basic statistics and unit conversions for calculating concentrations and reporting results
- Knowledge of the regulatory framework for the lab: CLIA personnel and testing complexity rules for clinical, EPA methods and TNI (NELAP) standards for environmental, cGMP and 21 CFR Part 11 for pharmaceutical, and FSMA preventive controls for food
- Safe handling of biological specimens, acids, solvents, and compressed gases
Soft skills
- Precision over speed, because a transposed digit in a result can harm a patient or fail a product lot
- Honesty in reporting a mistake or a failed control the same day it happens
- Comfort with repetitive bench work for long stretches
- Clear written records that another technician can follow without asking
- Willingness to ask before improvising on a procedure
Education
- Associate degree in medical laboratory technology, biology, chemistry, or a related science; a bachelor’s degree is common for environmental and QC roles
- High school diploma with 2 or more years of hands-on lab experience accepted by some industrial employers
Certifications
- None required for most industrial and environmental labs; ASCP MLT certification and a state license (in California, Florida, New York, and about a dozen other states) required for clinical testing
- ASCP Phlebotomy Technician (PBT) or Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) is useful for hospital roles that include specimen collection
- HAZWOPER 40-hour training or a forklift certification is sometimes required in environmental and manufacturing labs
Preferred Qualifications
- 1 or more years of experience in the same type of lab as the opening
- Experience with the employer’s specific instruments and LIMS
- Prior work in an accredited lab (CAP, ISO/IEC 17025:2017, TNI/NELAP, or cGMP) with audit exposure
- Experience writing or revising SOPs
- Experience with an electronic lab notebook such as Benchling or LabArchives
- Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, or microbiology for roles that lead to an analyst position
How Much Does a Lab Technician Make?
Typical national range: $39,988 to $62,453, with a national average of $48,530. Salary data reviewed October 2026 by 4 Corner Resources.
Lab technician salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. Click below to explore salaries by local market.
The average national salary for a Lab Technician is:
$48,530
Sample Job Description Templates for Lab Technicians
Clinical Lab Technician (Hospital)
Position Overview
We are hiring a Clinical Lab Technician for our hospital’s core laboratory. You will process specimens, perform waived and moderate complexity testing in chemistry, hematology, and urinalysis under the supervision of a medical technologist, and maintain our analyzers and quality control records. The position reports to the Core Lab Supervisor and includes nights, weekends, and holidays on rotation.
Responsibilities
- Receive and process specimens from inpatient units, the emergency department, and outreach clients
- Perform assigned testing on chemistry, hematology, coagulation, and urinalysis analyzers
- Complete daily QC, calibration, and maintenance, and document them in the LIS
- Report critical values to the ordering provider within the lab’s time standard and document the call
- Load and unload the automation line and resolve specimen flags
- Review digital morphology cell classifications and results held by autoverification rules, and refer abnormal findings to the medical technologist
- Assist with proficiency testing and CAP inspection preparation
Requirements
Hard skills
- Associate degree in medical laboratory technology or a related science
- State clinical laboratory license where required, and ASCP MLT certification or eligibility
- Experience with hospital analyzers such as Roche, Beckman, Abbott, or Sysmex
- Familiarity with Epic Beaker or another LIS
Soft skills
- Keeps turnaround times during a night shift with no supervisor on site
- Reports a QC failure immediately instead of rerunning until it passes
- Patient and clear on the phone with nurses asking about results
Education
- Associate degree in medical laboratory technology or clinical laboratory science required
Certifications
- ASCP MLT certification required, or obtained within 1 year; state license as applicable
Environmental Lab Technician
Position Overview
Our environmental testing laboratory is adding a Lab Technician to our wet chemistry and metals department. You will prepare water, soil, and wastewater samples, perform EPA and Standard Methods analyses, and keep the documentation our NELAP accreditation requires. The role reports to the Department Supervisor and supports a team of analysts who review and release the data.
Responsibilities
- Log samples, verify chain-of-custody forms, and store samples at the required temperature and hold time
- Prepare samples by digestion, extraction, or filtration for metals and wet chemistry analysis
- Perform pH, conductivity, turbidity, alkalinity, and nutrient analyses following EPA methods
- Operate and maintain the ICP-OES, discrete analyzer, and ion chromatograph with analyst oversight
- Prepare standards, blanks, spikes, and duplicates for each batch and record them in the LIMS
- Transfer instrument data to the LIMS and correct transfer errors before the analyst reviews the batch
- Track reagent inventory and dispose of chemical waste according to the lab’s plan
Requirements
Hard skills
- Associate or bachelor’s degree in chemistry, environmental science, or biology
- 1 or more years of experience in an environmental or water quality lab
- Familiarity with EPA methods, Standard Methods, and TNI (NELAP) documentation
- Experience with a LIMS and with batch QC records
Soft skills
- Meets hold times and batch deadlines when samples arrive late in the day
- Follows the method exactly and documents any deviation
- Comfortable with repetitive sample prep in a fume hood
Education
- Associate degree in a physical or life science required; bachelor’s degree preferred
Preferred qualifications
- Experience with ICP-MS or ion chromatography
- 40-hour HAZWOPER training
Quality Control Lab Technician (Manufacturing)
Position Overview
We are seeking a Quality Control Lab Technician for our food manufacturing plant. You will test raw materials, in-process samples, and finished product against specifications, record results in batch records, and place product on hold when it fails. The position reports to the QC Manager and follows a 2-2-3 schedule on 12-hour shifts.
Responsibilities
- Collect and test in-process and finished product samples for moisture, pH, viscosity, and microbial counts at the frequency the control plan requires
- Perform environmental monitoring swabs and plate them for pathogen and indicator organisms
- Record results in the batch record and the LIMS, and notify production of any out-of-specification result before the lot moves
- Place nonconforming product on hold and document it for the QA investigation
- Calibrate and verify lab instruments on schedule and keep calibration logs
- Record results in the LIMS under ALCOA+ data integrity rules so every entry is attributable and time-stamped
- Support SQF, FDA, and customer audits with complete records
Requirements
Hard skills
- Associate degree in food science, microbiology, chemistry, or a related field, or 2 or more years of QC lab experience in a manufacturing plant
- Experience with aseptic technique and microbiological plating
- Working knowledge of cGMP, HACCP, FSMA preventive controls, and good documentation practice
- Ability to work 12-hour shifts on the production floor and in the lab
Soft skills
- Says no to a production supervisor who wants a failing lot released
- Accurate with records at the end of a long shift
- Communicates test results to line operators in plain terms
Education
- Associate degree in a science field preferred; high school diploma with QC experience accepted
Preferred qualifications
- HACCP or PCQI certification
- Experience in an SQF or BRC certified facility
Research Lab Technician
Position Overview
We are hiring a Research Lab Technician to support a principal investigator’s lab studying infectious disease at our university medical center. You will maintain cell cultures, prepare reagents, perform PCR and ELISA assays, and keep the lab’s inventory, equipment, and compliance records in order. The role reports to the Lab Manager and works alongside graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
Responsibilities
- Maintain mammalian cell lines and bacterial cultures, including passaging, freezing, and contamination checks
- Perform PCR, qPCR, ELISA, Western blot, and DNA and RNA extraction following lab protocols
- Prepare buffers, media, and reagents and label them with date, concentration, and preparer
- Order supplies, track the lab budget spreadsheet, and receive and store shipments
- Keep the lab’s biosafety, chemical inventory, and equipment maintenance records current for inspections
- Record experiments in the electronic lab notebook, such as Benchling or LabArchives, and share data with the team
- Check AI-assisted image or sequence analysis output against the raw data before sharing results with the team
Requirements
Hard skills
- Bachelor’s degree in biology, microbiology, biochemistry, or a related field
- Hands-on experience with sterile cell culture and molecular biology techniques
- Experience with lab inventory and ordering systems
- Familiarity with BSL-2 practices
Soft skills
- Organized enough to keep a shared lab stocked for 8 to 10 researchers
- Careful with protocols that cost weeks of work if a step is skipped
- Curious about the science and willing to learn new techniques
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in a life science required
Preferred qualifications
- 1 or more years of experience in an academic research lab
- Experience with flow cytometry or fluorescence microscopy