Lab Assistant
Impact: Indirect
Lab Assistants perform a variety of essential tasks within clinical and research laboratories. Their responsibilities typically include preparing and processing clinical laboratory specimens, performing routine and specialized tests, preparing and staining slides for analysis, and handling blood draws. They are also involved in labeling specimens, centrifuging samples, recording maintenance data, and decontamination procedures. Additionally, Lab Assistants often manage administrative duties such as answering phones, distributing specimens, and maintaining laboratory policies and procedures.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- Team-oriented
- Client facing
- Rarely
- Impact visibility
- Moderate
- Travel
- None
- Schedule flexibility
- Structured
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 40 hours per week
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $60,268 per year
- Entry-level
- $42,558 per year
- Senior
- $78,000 per year
- Growth by 2033
- 5%
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- Moderate
- Typical student debt
- $15,000 - $30,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Specimen Handling
- Phlebotomy
- Laboratory Equipment Operation
Soft skills
- Attention to Detail
- Communication
- Teamwork
Technical complexity: Moderate
How to get there
- Minimum education
- High school diploma with science and math coursework, some post-secondary education or training, or an Associate's degree.
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 5
- Years to senior
- 10
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Lab Assistant
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Medical Technologist
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- Low
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 4/10
- Meaning
- 4/10
- Work-life balance
- 3.5/10
- Prestige
- 5/10
- Social perception
- Moderate