jobfacts

Laboratory technician

Laboratory technicians — SOC 2020 3111

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.

Also calledLab technicianLab assistantGeotechnicianGeotechnical lab technicianGeotechnical engineerHealthcare science assistantand 64 more titles
Typical full-time pay£28,2002025 Provisional
People in the job51,000across the UK
Demand for workersElevated
New adverts a month912↓ 10%on last year · 202nd of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025

Half of full-time laboratory technicians earn between £25,000 and £34,000 a year.

What full-time laboratory technicians earn, 2025
£28,200 typical£22,300lowest 10%£25,00025%£36,200top 20%n/ptop 10%
Middle half (£25,000–£34,000)n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less than£22,300
Lowest 20% earn less than£24,000
25%£25,000
Median£28,200
75%£34,000
Top 20% earn more than£36,200
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
Typical pay by regionUK median £28,200
London!£32,700
East of England!£29,800
South East!£28,800
North West!£28,600
North East!£27,200
Scotland!£26,900
Yorkshire and The Humber!£26,800
Wales!£26,100
East Midlands!£25,500
West Midlands!£25,000
South WestNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £28,200
London£32,700 (small sample)
East of England£29,800 (small sample)
South East£28,800 (small sample)
North West£28,600 (small sample)
North East£27,200 (small sample)
Scotland£26,900 (small sample)
Yorkshire and The Humber£26,800 (small sample)
Wales£26,100 (small sample)
East Midlands£25,500 (small sample)
West Midlands£25,000 (small sample)
South WestNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £26,300
  • 2024 £27,000
  • 2025 Provisional£28,200
↑ 7.4% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 912 jobs for laboratory technicians are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as elevated.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (2 in all)
Show as table
Aug 2026952
Jul 20261,140
Jun 2026Not published
May 2026822
Apr 2026786
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 2026883
Jan 2026885
Dec 2025787
Nov 2025921
Oct 2025962
Sept 2025985
Aug 2025913
Jul 20251,144
Jun 20251,028
May 20251,085
Apr 2025962
Mar 20251,148
Feb 20251,093
Jan 20251,022
Dec 2024705
Nov 20241,010
Oct 20241,040
Sept 20241,162
Aug 20241,094
Jul 20241,295
Jun 20241,135
May 20241,213
Apr 20241,091
Mar 20241,062
Feb 2024915
Jan 20241,169
Dec 20231,031
Nov 20231,049
Oct 20231,156
Sept 20231,134
Aug 20231,206
Jul 20231,301
Jun 20231,719
May 20231,978
Apr 20231,262
Mar 20231,525
Feb 20231,568
Jan 20232,216
Dec 20221,485
Nov 20221,697
Oct 20221,799
Sept 20221,682
Aug 20221,673
Jul 20221,854
Jun 20221,688
May 20222,020
Apr 20221,532
Mar 20221,854
Feb 20221,816
Jan 20221,966
Dec 20211,645
Nov 20211,944
Oct 20211,848
Sept 20211,707
Aug 20211,665
Jul 20211,820
Jun 20211,637
May 20211,641
Apr 20211,494
Mar 20211,907
Feb 20211,246
Jan 20211,281
Dec 20201,244
Nov 20201,203
Oct 20201,358
Sept 20201,092
Aug 2020980
Jul 2020960
Jun 2020797
May 2020668
Apr 2020724
Mar 20201,204
Feb 20201,351
Jan 20201,259
Dec 2019921
Nov 20191,123
Oct 20191,317
Sept 20191,233
Aug 20191,411
Jul 20191,494
Jun 20191,418
May 20191,595
Apr 2019949
Mar 20191,122
Feb 20191,032
Jan 20191,169
Dec 2018779
Nov 20181,081
Oct 20181,320
Sept 20181,238
Aug 20181,297
Jul 20181,073
Jun 20181,266
May 20181,200
Apr 20181,054
Mar 20181,272
Feb 20181,023
Jan 20181,178
Dec 2017879
Nov 20171,179
Oct 20171,076
Sept 20171,211
Aug 20171,249
Jul 20171,214
Jun 20171,246
May 20171,340
Apr 20171,297
Mar 20171,378
Feb 20171,167
Jan 20171,255
Is there a shortage of laboratory technicians?
Elevated

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment; in 2024 it was not high.

  • Visas grantedAbove usual
  • Online job advertsAbove usual
  • Wage growthAbove usual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedAbove usual
Note: uncertainty in change in hourly wage.
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
30%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for science, engineering and production technicians, which includes laboratory technicians. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London388
Birmingham69
South Gloucestershire62
Leeds62
Manchester54
Cambridge46
Oxford40
Bristol, City of40
Bradford36
Tewkesbury36
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where laboratory technicians are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 57 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from India, France, United States, ranking it 126th of 313. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
Age of laboratory technicians
8.5%!
37%!
19%!
15%!
16%!
4.7%!
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
16–248.5% (small sample)
25–3437% (small sample)
35–4419% (small sample)
45–5415% (small sample)
55–6416% (small sample)
65+4.7% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent55%
Higher education below degree!13%
A levels or equivalent17%
GCSEs or equivalent!9.1%
Other qualifications!4.4%
No qualifications–
Not published
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent55%
Higher education below degree13% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent17%
GCSEs or equivalent9.1% (small sample)
Other qualifications4.4% (small sample)
No qualificationsNot published

Main employers: general secondary education (12%), other human health activities (9.8%), hospital activities (8.7%), tertiary education (8.2%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
55%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
5
from level 2
Apprenticeships take
2 to 3 years
typically
T Levels
1
college courses for 16 to 19 year olds

Routes in

Laboratory technician

You can get into this job through:

University

You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a scientific subject to work as a laboratory technician.

Subjects include:

  • biomedical science
  • environmental science
  • forensic science
  • materials science
  • pharmacy
  • biology, chemistry or physics
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 3 A levels or equivalent

College

You could take a college course to help improve your chances of finding a trainee lab assistant position.

You could do a course such as:

  • applied science
  • environmental science
  • chemistry, physics or biology
  • T Level in Science
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could apply for a Laboratory Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship or a Technician Scientist Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship.

These apprenticeships can take between 2 and 3 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Apply directly

You can apply for work as a lab technician if you have experience in a:

  • university research lab
  • clinical laboratory in a hospital
  • manufacturing or industrial research facility
  • school or college science department

Registration and professional bodies

Professional and industry bodies

You can register with a professional body linked to your area of work for career development and training opportunities.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a laboratory technician from the Science Council and Health Careers.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for laboratory technician. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Geotechnician

You can get into this job through:

University

You could do a higher national diploma, foundation degree or degree in a relevant subject like:

  • geoscience
  • geology
  • environmental science
  • Earth sciences
  • mineral or mining engineering
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job. Relevant subjects include:

  • geology
  • applied science
  • laboratory technical skills
  • laboratory and associated technical activities
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Apprenticeship

You may be able to apply to do a Laboratory Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

You could also apply to do a Geoscientist Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship, if you have the right entry requirements.

Entry requirements

To get onto an apprenticeship, you'll find it useful to have:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

Other ways in

Work your way up

You may be able to start as an assistant technician with a company and work your way up through training and promotion.

To do this, you'll need a minimum of 5 GCSEs grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), and 2 A levels, including maths and sciences. Equivalent qualifications may be accepted like the Level 3 Diploma in Applied Science.

Volunteering

Work experience in the field or a laboratory could give you an advantage when applying for courses and jobs. For example, you could join your local geological group or contact companies listed in The Geologist Directory to find out about potential work placements.

Registration and professional bodies

Professional and industry bodies

You could join The Geological Society for professional development opportunities and to make contacts in the industry.

Further information

You can discover more about careers in geoscience through The Geological Society and Minerals Matter.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for geotechnician. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Healthcare science assistant

You can get into this job through:

College

You could take a college course, which may help when looking for work or an apprenticeship.

Courses include:

  • applied science
  • biology, chemistry, maths or physics
  • T Level in Healthcare Science
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You can apply to do an apprenticeship, such as:

  • Healthcare Science Assistant Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Healthcare Science Associate Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Other ways in

Volunteering

You may have an advantage when applying for jobs or an apprenticeship if you have volunteering experience in health or social care.

You can also find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Do IT.

Apply directly

You can apply directly for jobs. You'll usually need:

  • good literacy, numeracy and IT skills
  • an understanding of medical terminology
  • some experience of working in a healthcare or lab setting

Registration and professional bodies

Registration
  • you could register with the Academy for Healthcare Science to demonstrate your professional skills and competence
Further information

You can find out more about working as a healthcare science assistant from Health Careers.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for healthcare science assistant. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Metrologist

You can get into this job through:

University

You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

  • systems and manufacturing engineering
  • mechatronics and electronics engineering
  • physics
  • mathematics
  • instrumentation and control engineering
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and a science for a degree

College

You could take a college course, which could give you some of the skills and knowledge needed to become a metrology technician.

Relevant courses include:

  • physics
  • maths
  • applied science
  • T Level in Science
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Metrology Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, or Senior Metrology Technician Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship.

These apprenticeships typically take 3 years to complete and are a mix of on-the-job training and classroom study.

Entry requirements

To get onto an apprenticeship, you'll find it useful to have:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

Measurement science is an important part of every day life, as well as in scientific research. The Institute of Measurement and Control produces journals, videos and technical resources where you can learn more about the metrology profession.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Institute of Measurement and Control for professional development opportunities and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can find out more about metrology and how it's used from the Institute of Measurement and Control and the National Physical Laboratory.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for metrologist. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

5 for this job
Level 3About 2 years

Laboratory technician

Leads to
The Royal Society of Biology, Royal Society of Chemistry and Institute of Physics have worked together with t…
Details on Skills England
Level 3About 2 years

Animal technologist

You gain
IAT Level 3 Diploma in Laboratory Animal Science and Technology (2021)
Leads to
Institute of Animal Technology
Details on Skills England
Level 2About 2 years

Nuclear health physics monitor

You gain
IOSH Working Safely; GQA Certificate in Health Physics Monitoring in the nuclear industry (theory)
Leads to
Society for Radiological Protection
Details on Skills England

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Other qualifications

QualificationTypeLevel
ScienceT Level3
FdSc Human BiosciencesHigher technical5
Foundation Degree in Applied ScienceHigher technical5
Foundation Degree in Biomedical & Pharmaceutical SciencesHigher technical5

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • sets up and assists with the construction and the development of scientific apparatus for experimental, demonstration or other purposes
  • prepares organic and inorganic material for examination and stains and fixes slides for microscope work
  • operates and services specialised scientific equipment, undertakes prescribed measurements and analyses and ensures that sterile conditions necessary for some equipment are maintained
  • records and collates data obtained from experimental work and documents all work carried out
  • maintains and rotates stock and supplies
  • disposes of chemical and biological waste safely
  • keeps up to date with new technical developments

Skills

  • assist scientific research
  • collect samples for analysis
  • perform laboratory tests
  • apply safety procedures in laboratory
  • apply scientific methods
  • apply statistical analysis techniques
  • execute analytical mathematical calculations
  • maintain laboratory equipment
  • operate scientific measuring equipment
  • use geographic information systems
  • write work-related reports
  • analyse scientific data
  • interpret geophysical data
  • avoid contamination

Knowledge

  • mathematics
  • geology
  • laboratory techniques
  • cartography
  • metrology
  • physics
  • statistics
  • chemistry

Suits people who like

  • Practical, hands-on work
  • Organising and following procedures

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for science, engineering and technology associate professionals, a group of 11 jobs that includes laboratory technicians.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↓ 4.9%about 34,000 fewer jobs
Workers needed by 2035228,000including people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.