Scientific laboratory technician
Also called lab assistant, laboratory assistant, laboratory technologist
Scientific laboratory technicians carry out laboratory-based research, analysis and testing and support life science professionals. They sample, test, measure, research and analyse in areas such as biology, biotechnology, environmental science, forensic science and pharmacology. Scientific laboratory technicians also observe and monitor laboratory activities, record test sequences and analyse the results.
What you'd do
Life science technicians (excluding medical) · ILO- Assisting in designing, setting up and conducting experiments
- Setting up, calibrating, operating and maintaining laboratory instruments and equipment
- Collecting and preparing specimens and samples, chemical solutions and slides and growing cultures for use in experiments
- Performing routine field and laboratory tests
- Monitoring experiments to ensure adherence to correct laboratory quality control procedures and health and safety guidelines
- Making observations of tests and analysing, calculating, recording and reporting test results using appropriate scientific methods
- Preserving, classifying and cataloguing specimens and samples
- Keeping detailed logs of worked performed
- Using computers to develop models and analyse data
- Using complex and high-powered equipment to perform work
- Participating in the research, development and manufacture of products and processes
- Ordering and stocking laboratory supplies
- Maintaining relevant databases
- Indoors
- A mix of sitting and standing
- Lots of contact with people
- Some freedom to decide
- Usually under 40 hours a week
- Deadlines most weeks
- Very repetitive tasks
Will there be jobs?
Average prospectsA typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.
Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.
What does it pay?
About averagePay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,600 a month (Bulgaria) to €6,500 (Denmark), before tax.
Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.
Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat
What do I need to study?
Usually post-secondary or a short degreePost-secondary training or a short degree in biology is the usual route.
697 institutions in the EU offer science and maths bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.
Will AI change it?
In some tasksAI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.
Average task score 0.38 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).
See the score for each of the 13 tasks
Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for life science technicians (excluding medical). Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).