How To Become A Senior Laboratory Specialist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a senior laboratory specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted Expert

Dr. Tanea Reed Ph.D.

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a senior laboratory specialist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $26.71 an hour? That's $55,556 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 19% and produce 150,300 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a Senior Laboratory Specialist?

Dr. Tanea Reed Ph.D.

Chair, Professor, Eastern Kentucky University

To a graduate just starting out, I would highly recommend establishing a list of short-term and long-term goals. Think about where they see themselves in the next 5 to 10 years and how they plan to reach them using SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound). Additionally, if they have not already done so, they should set up a LinkedIn account as many jobs can be found on that platform. New graduates should plan on making multiple resumes that can be used when applying to different jobs based on the criteria (i.e., skills, academic, etc.). Lastly, I would recommend making a list of their "dream jobs and companies" and research the skills needed to perform the duties of their dream job and learn more about the company itself.

ScoreSenior Laboratory SpecialistUS Average

Salary

4.3

Avg. Salary $55,556

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.6

Growth Rate 19%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.80%

Asian 14.95%

Black or African American 10.62%

Hispanic or Latino 16.00%

Unknown 5.05%

White 52.59%

Gender

female 35.94%

male 64.06%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress Level

6.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

9.7

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

8.7

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a senior laboratory specialist

Explore senior laboratory specialist education requirements

Most common senior laboratory specialist degrees

Bachelor's

51.6 %

Associate

24.8 %

Master's

15.0 %

Start to develop specific senior laboratory specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Technical Support	8.17%
Test Results	7.52%
Lab Equipment	7.11%
Cell Culture	6.49%
Data Analysis	5.65%

Complete relevant senior laboratory specialist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior laboratory specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior laboratory specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior laboratory specialist resumes.

Research senior laboratory specialist duties and responsibilities

Manage supply inventory and maintain cleanliness.
Experience as an ISO train auditor.
Maintain, calibrate, and troubleshot GC equipment in the polymerization methods.
Assist in monitoring and controlling the requirements of ISO 17025 and ISO 9001:2000.

Prepare your senior laboratory specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior laboratory specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior laboratory specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Senior Laboratory Specialist Resume templates

Build a professional Senior Laboratory Specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Senior Laboratory Specialist resume.

Apply for senior laboratory specialist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a senior laboratory specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average senior laboratory specialist salary

The average Senior Laboratory Specialist salary in the United States is $55,556 per year or $27 per hour. Senior laboratory specialist salaries range between $41,000 and $73,000 per year.

Average Senior Laboratory Specialist Salary

$55,556 Yearly

$26.71 hourly

How do senior laboratory specialists rate their job?