Occupation 3111 · Associate professional occupations
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.
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.
Assistant scientist (laboratory) · Associate practitioner (laboratory) · Cytoscreener · Hospital technician · Laboratory technician · Scientific technician
| Measure | Hours | Basis | Period | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | None | 2026-03 | 41,200.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | None | 2026-03 | 46,500.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | None | 2026-03 | 49,900.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | None | 2026-03 | 1,200.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | None | 2026-03 | 3,500.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | None | 2026-03 | 51,100.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | None | 2026-03 | 5,300.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
ONS does not publish occupational pay below region. Cells the survey could not support are shown as withheld, with its reason — adding a region split to a specific occupation leaves roughly a tenth of cells publishable.
| Region | Measure | Hours | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | 5,000.00 | 2026-03 |
| East Midlands | 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | 1,800.00 | 2026-03 |
| London | 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | 6,900.00 | 2026-03 |
| North East | 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | 2,100.00 | 2026-03 |
| North West | 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | 6,100.00 | 2026-03 |
| Northern Ireland | 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | 1,200.00 | 2026-03 |
| Scotland | 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | 3,500.00 | 2026-03 |
| South East | 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | 8,200.00 | 2026-03 |
| South West | 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | 4,100.00 | 2026-03 |
| Wales | 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | 5,300.00 | 2026-03 |
| West Midlands | 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | 4,600.00 | 2026-03 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 3111 : Laboratory technicians | None | 2,500.00 | 2026-03 |
ONS publishes regional pay for this occupation where the survey sample supports it — 12 of 12 cells on this page. The rest are withheld by ONS, and are shown as withheld with the reason, rather than left out.
The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, published by the Office for National Statistics. Figures are shown exactly as ONS publishes them — we do not adjust, model or fill them in, and every number on this page carries the series and period it came from.
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