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Careers›Roles›Lab Analyst
Mid-Level

Lab Analyst

Samples come in and answers go out, and you're the one who runs the tests: preparing, analyzing, and reporting results others rely on to be exactly right. Where careful testing turns samples into answers.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
I
R
E
S
A
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Lab Analysts
Education · 31%Professional Services · 24%Government · 14%Manufacturing · 12%Administrative Services · 8%Healthcare · 6%
Job markets for Lab Analysts
Employment concentration · ~178 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Science
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Lab Analyst

Work is hands-on bench science: preparing samples, running instruments and assays, recording data, and reporting results, often to set procedures. Precision and consistency are everything, since a sloppy result misleads whoever depends on it, and the craft is steady, exacting technique, repeated reliably, sample after sample.

What surprises people is how repetitive and procedure-bound it is: the same careful steps, day after day, with little room to improvise. Deadlines and volume can pressure, safety and protocol matter with samples and chemicals, and the work is detail-heavy. Settings span medical, environmental, industrial, and research labs.

It fits someone careful, patient, and content with exacting routine. If you want variety or fast-paced interaction, the bench may not suit. But if there's satisfaction in producing results people can trust, and in doing precise work well every time, the role tends to be steady and quietly important.

What people in this role value
SupportModerate
IndependenceModerate
Working ConditionsModerate
RecognitionModerate
RelationshipsModerate
AchievementLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Professional Services$92K+15%
Technology & Information$91K+13%
Energy & Utilities$82K+2%
Financial Services$81K+2%
Wholesale & Distribution$79K-1%
Compared to Science average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Lab Analysts (SOC 19-4099.01), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Science →
Lab AnalystPerformance Quality AuditorData Quality AnalystQuality Assurance Coordinator (QA Coordinator)Quality AnalystQuality ControllerQuality SpecialistLaboratory Technician (Lab Tech)Quality AuditorLaboratory AnalystQuality Process AuditorLab Technician (Lab Tech)Quality Control Auditor (QC Auditor)QA Auditor (Quality Assurance Auditor)QA Tech (Quality Assurance Technician)QA Specialist (Quality Assurance Specialist)QA Testing Analyst (Quality Assurance Testing Analyst)Chemistry Quality Control Analyst (Chemistry QC Analyst)Chemistry Quality Control Technician (Chemistry QC Technician)
Exploring the Lab Analyst career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$37K–$102K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
71K
U.S. Employment
+3.5%
10yr Growth
11K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$77K$74K$71K$68K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$77K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Quality Control AnalysisReading ComprehensionMonitoringActive ListeningComplex Problem SolvingWritingCritical ThinkingOperations MonitoringActive LearningSpeaking
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
19-4099.01

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midPerformance Quality Auditor$82KseniorSenior Performance Quality Auditor$82KmidData Quality Analyst$103KseniorSenior Data Quality Analyst$103KmidQuality Assurance Coordinator (QA Coordinator)$91KmidQuality Analyst$71K
View all Science roles →

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.