Back to Career Guides

How to become a Lab Technician

261

Lab Technician jobs

529

Lab Technician courses

Career progression and salary expectations for a Lab Technician

Lab Technician

| Up to £25,000

As a Lab Technician, you'll start your career by conducting routine laboratory tests, preparing samples, maintaining equipment, and recording data. This entry-level role provides valuable hands-on experience in laboratory procedures and technical skills.

Lab Manager

| Up to £30,000

After progressing to become a Lab Manager, you'll take on increased responsibility for overseeing laboratory operations, managing lab technicians, and ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards. This role involves coordinating research activities, maintaining laboratory supplies, and developing protocols.

Biomedical Scientist

| Up to £35,000

If you study for a higher-level qualification such as a master's degree or PhD in biomedical science or a related field, you could progress into a Biomedical Scientist role. In this advanced role, you'll be responsible for analysing biological samples, diagnosing diseases, and developing treatments.

The role of a Lab Technician

What does a Lab Technician do?

Want a career that gets a positive reaction? You should become a Lab Technician…

Lab Technicians work alongside Scientists in a laboratory, helping them to carry out a range of experiments and investigations.

They could work in labs that focus on various areas of research and analysis, from forensics and scientific studies, to medicine and education.

So whether their research is used to develop new products or diagnose diseases, a Lab Technician’s role plays a big part in improving our daily lives, and the environment we live in.

Duties for a Lab Technician could include:

Ordering, distributing, and maintaining lab supplies
Cleaning and sterilising glassware
Assessing lab activity risks
Organising and setting up experiments, trials, and investigations
Collecting, testing, and analysing samples
Keeping records and presenting findings
Using safe disposal methods to discard waste
Demonstrating scientific procedures if based in an educational setting

Is a career as a Lab Technician right for me?

If you’re always trying to get to the bottom of things, becoming a Lab Technician could be the perfect career move for you.

An interest in science and problem solving combined with an analytical mind are also key attributes to becoming a good Lab Technician – and, because a lot of your role will involve experimenting with a range of (often microscopic) samples and specimens, a meticulous eye for detail is equally essential.

Clumsy people need not apply… (Unless you’re good at covering up accidental Bunsen burner related fires).

A Lab Technician should also have:

An independent work ethic
Excellent communication skills
An ability to work in a team
Initiative
Good IT skills
A technical and inquisitive mind
Knowledge of scientific practices and equipment

What's it like to be a Lab Technician?

"I work as a Lab Technician in a neurology lab, specialising in the examination of Parkinson’s disease in post-mortem brain tissue. In a nutshell, my role involves assisting a research team, and working with professors and science students to carry out experiments – and to make sure the lab reagents are stocked and maintained. It’s really exciting to know that the research I’m supporting could help to develop life-changing medicine, and I genuinely enjoy my job. It’s also a great place to start if you’re looking to pursue a career in science – although many Lab Technician roles can be contract-based, so it’s worth considering studying for a PhD if you’re looking for something more permanent."

Get qualified as a Lab Technician

To become a Lab Technician, you typically need a relevant qualification such as a diploma or degree in a scientific discipline like biology, chemistry, or biomedical science. Practical experience gained through internships, work placements, or laboratory assistant roles is highly beneficial, and many Lab Technicians also complete specific vocational qualifications, such as a BTECs or NVQs. Additionally, some roles may require certification from professional bodies such as the Institute of Science and Technology (IST).

Recommended Lab Technician courses

Lab Technician Diploma

Thames College

Level 7 QLS QLS Diploma with FREE Endorsed Certificate | 170 CPD Points | Instant Access
- Compare
- Online
- 600 hours · Self-paced
- 170 CPD points
- Tutor support
Great service

Trending

See more See less

►►► The Must-Have Lab Technician Course for Spring is Live Now! Hurry Up before the time runs out ◄◄◄ Consider a career as a scientific laboratory technician if you have a science background and wish to support scientific analysis , research, and development. As a Scient …
Save 22%

£100 £129
Lab Technician: Chemistry, Biochemistry & Chemical Engineering - CPD Certified

Compliance Central

20-in-1 Exclusive Bundle | CPD Accredited | 20 FREE PDF Certificates | 200 CPD Points | Lifetime Access | 24/7 Support
- Compare
- Online
- 100 hours · Self-paced
- Certificate(s) included
- 200 CPD points
- Tutor support
Great service

See more See less

Feeling Stuck in Your Career? The Lab Technician: Chemistry, Biochemistry & Chemical Engineering- 20 in 1 CPD Accredited Courses! Bundle is Your Skill-Building Solution. This exceptional Lab Technician: Chemistry, Biochemistry & Chemical Engineering bundle is designed to …
£100