Laboratory clerks handle the paperwork and records side of lab operations — sample logging, results reporting, and the documentation that lab work generates.
Laboratory Clerk pay typically runs $35K–$53K at this level, and jobs in this field are projected to shrink 7% through 2034.
Workdays involve steady processing work — logging samples, entering results, processing reports, and maintaining records. The pace tends to follow lab volume. Most clerks become quietly fluent in the lab's scientific shorthand — knowing what the test codes mean even if you don't run the tests yourself.
Collaboration usually involves lab techs, lab managers, and clients receiving results. What's harder than expected is the precision required — lab paperwork errors can affect patient or client outcomes, and a results report sent to the wrong account or with a wrong specimen ID has real consequences.
People who thrive tend to be methodical, accurate, and comfortable in scientific settings. If you find satisfaction in supporting good lab work, the role often suits. People who need creative challenge or who don't enjoy the scientific environment usually find the role too narrow — but for those drawn to lab work without wanting to be a tech, it's often a good fit.
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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.
Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths
View all Admin & Office roles →Laboratory clerks handle the paperwork and records side of lab operations — sample logging, results reporting, and the documentation that lab work generates.
Median pay for a Laboratory Clerk is about $44K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $29K to $64K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Writing, and Critical Thinking.
Most people in this role hold a high school diploma.
Employment in this field is projected to decline about 6.7% through 2034, with roughly 2.5 million people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Credit Card Clerk, History Card Clerk, and Office Support Assistant.
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