Laboratory Supervisor
Impact: Scientific, Managerial
Oversees the daily operations of a laboratory, including managing staff, ensuring quality control, maintaining equipment, and adhering to safety protocols. This role involves both technical expertise and strong leadership skills to ensure efficient and accurate lab functions.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Extensive
- Team vs solo
- Balanced
- Client facing
- Never
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- Minimal
- Schedule flexibility
- Rigid
- Remote work
- Limited Remote
- Typical work hours
- 40 hours/week
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $85,000
- Entry-level
- $65,000
- Senior
- $110,000
- Growth by 2033
- 5-8%
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- Good
- Typical student debt
- $30,000 - $50,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Laboratory Techniques
- Quality Control
- Data Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance
Soft skills
- Leadership
- Problem-Solving
- Communication
Technical complexity: High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Bachelor's Degree
- Licensing
- Yes
- Years to mid-career
- 5-7 years
- Years to senior
- 10-15 years
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Typically progresses from a lab technician or scientist role, moving into supervisory and then management positions within a laboratory or research institution.
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
- High