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Laboratory Technicians

Laboratory technicians carry out routine laboratory tests and checks and perform a variety of technical support functions requiring the application of established or prescribed procedures and techniques to assist scientists with their research, development, analysis and testing, and to verify the physical, chemical and other characteristics of materials and products.

Wages

New workers
AVERAGE
Experienced
£14,438
£24,017
£37,088

New workers start around £14,438. Normal pay is £24,017 per year.
Highly experienced workers can earn up to £37,088.

Available jobs

In the past year there were 80,745 vacancies for this type of job

5.87%

Projected job growth over the next 8 years

Related courses

People work towards these careers by taking these courses at college and uni.

What they do most days?

  • Keeps up to date with new technical developments.

  • Disposes of chemical and biological waste safely.

  • Maintains and rotates stock and supplies.

  • Records and collates data obtained from experimental work and documents all work carried out.

  • Operates and services specialised scientific equipment, undertakes prescribed measurements and analyses and ensures that sterile conditions necessary for some equipment are maintained.

  • Prepares organic and inorganic material for examination and stains and fixes slides for microscope work.

  • Sets up and assists with the construction and the development of scientific apparatus for experimental, demonstration or other purposes.

Hard Skills

Hard skills are specific, learnable, measurable, often industry or occupation-specific abilities related to a position.

Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.

  • Medical Laboratory

  • Chemistry

  • Laboratory Equipment

  • Standard Operating Procedure

  • Laboratory Experience

  • Biology

  • Housekeeping

  • Microbiology

  • Pathology

  • Auditing

Soft Skills

Soft skills can be self-taught and usually do not necessitate a certain completed level of education.

Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.

  • Communication

  • Detail Oriented

  • Research

  • Management

  • English Language

  • Mathematics

  • Quality Control

  • Organizational Skills

  • Operations

  • Problem Solving

How do I get a job like this?

People in these types of job started their career paths after studying courses like the ones below.

Routes to this career

See all

Biomedical Science

University of Derby

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Derby · 09/2024

Tariff points: 112/120

Biochemistry with Foundation Year

Sheffield Hallam University

BSc (Hons) · 4 Years · Full-time including foundation year · Sheffield · 09/2024

Tariff points: 64/64

Dental Technology

Nottingham College

FD · 3 Years · Part-time · Nottingham · 23/09/2024

Tariff points: N/A

Chemistry (Extended)

University of Greenwich

BSc (Hons) · 4 Years · Full-time · Chatham · 09/2024

Tariff points: 64/64

Biomedical Science

Leeds Beckett University

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Leeds · 16/09/2024

Tariff points: 120/120

Chemistry

Keele University

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Keele · 09/2024

Tariff points: N/A

Neuroscience

Aston University, Birmingham

BSc (Hons) · 4 Years · Sandwich · Birmingham · 16/09/2024

Tariff points: N/A

Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science

Liverpool John Moores University

BSc (Hons) · 4 Years · Sandwich · Liverpool · 16/09/2024

Tariff points: 104/120

Marine Biology

University of Salford

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Salford · 09/2024

Tariff points: 104/112

Biological Sciences

University of Surrey

BSc (Hons) · 4 Years · Sandwich · Guildford · 09/2024

Tariff points: N/A

Biochemistry

Royal Holloway, University of London

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Egham · 23/09/2024

Tariff points: N/A

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