Laboratory technicians: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time laboratory technicians in the UK earned a median £28,210 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 28% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
It is in the lowest-paid third of the 382 occupations (66th from the bottom).
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £24,975 and £34,028.
Median full-time pay: women £27,356 a year, men £29,787 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 71,000 employee jobs, 82% full-time.
From £22,695 in 2021, the median is up 24.3%, close to the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 51,100 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £22,284 | £466.20 | £12.50 | £15,821 | £321.40 | £12.45 |
| 20th percentile | £23,997 | £488.40 | £13.03 | £21,539 | £454.90 | £12.96 |
| 25th percentile | £24,975 | £493.00 | £13.13 | £22,757 | £468.60 | £13.12 |
| 30th percentile | £25,608 | £499.50 | £13.28 | £23,656 | £480.70 | £13.25 |
| 40th percentile | £26,735 | £522.30 | £13.78 | £25,448 | £497.20 | £13.74 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £28,210 | £558.00 | £14.79 | £26,861 | £522.20 | £14.67 |
| 60th percentile | £29,902 | £584.60 | £15.51 | £28,633 | £560.80 | £15.31 |
| 70th percentile | £32,644 | £645.50 | £16.68 | £31,079 | £602.40 | £16.29 |
| 75th percentile | £34,028 | £670.70 | £18.09 | £32,655 | £645.30 | £17.02 |
| 80th percentile | £36,163* | £711.40 | £18.96 | £34,122 | £673.00 | £18.60 |
| Mean | £31,258 | £621.50 | £16.34 | £28,664 | £569.10 | £16.24 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £22,695 | £444.80 | £11.35 | £21,496 | £423.00 | 59 |
| 2022 revised | £24,216 | £468.50 | £12.01 | £23,036 | £435.00 | 59 |
| 2023 revised | £26,259 | £503.70 | £13.35 | £24,354 | £471.30 | 68 |
| 2024 revised | £27,048 | £524.90 | £13.66 | £26,258 | £493.60 | 66 |
| 2025 provisional | £28,210 | £558.00 | £14.79 | £26,861 | £522.20 | 71 |
Laboratory technicians by region
UK: 51,100 (± 8,800), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What laboratory technicians do
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. (ONS SOC 2020, 3111)
Also covers: assistant scientist (laboratory), associate practitioner (laboratory), cytoscreener, hospital technician, laboratory technician, scientific technician, analytical technician, anatomy technician, assistant scientist, biomedical assistant, chemical assistant, chemistry technician, cytology screener, electron microscopist, geological technician, geology technician, histology technician and lab technician (60 titles in the ONS coding index).
- 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
Entry varies from employer to employer. Entrants usually possess a degree, although entry is also possible with A-levels, GCSEs/S grades, an appropriate BTEC/SQA award or HNC/HND. Professional qualifications, NVQs/SVQs at various levels, and apprenticeships are available in some areas of work. Good eyesight, and in some cases, normal colour vision are also required.
Related
Science, engineering and production technicians (median £36,163) · Electrical and electronics technicians · Engineering technicians · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026