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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Laboratory Technician IV in California is $119,970 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $58.
However, a Laboratory Technician IV's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Laboratory Technician IV Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $127,000 | $10,583 | $2,442 | $61 |
| Average | $119,970 | $9,998 | $2,307 | $58 |
| 25th Percentile | $108,360 | $9,030 | $2,084 | $52 |
Kaiser Permanente - Pleasanton, CA
Exact Sciences - Redwood City, CA
System One - Fremont, CA
Armtec Defense Technologies - Coachella, CA
A Laboratory Technician IV's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Laboratory Technician IV's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Laboratory Assistant | 0-2 years | $63,902 |
| Intermediate Laboratory Assistant | 2-4 years | $77,256 |
| Senior Laboratory Assistant | 4-7 years | $96,817 |
| Laboratory Technician IV | 7+ years | $119,961 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Laboratory Technician IVs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
Laboratory Technician IV salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $134,520. While startup companies pay approximate $113,902.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $113,902 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $120,434 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $129,927 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $134,520 |
For Laboratory Technician IV roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 120% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Laboratory Technician positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Laboratory Technician IV as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software & Networking | $167,958 | $81.0 | 40% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $155,961 | $75.0 | 30% |
| Financial Services | $149,962 | $72.0 | 25% |
| Biotechnology | $143,964 | $69.0 | 20% |
| Energy & Utilities | $137,966 | $66.0 | 15% |
Understanding how a Laboratory Technician IV's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $127,000 | $10,583 | $2,442 | $61 |
| Average | $119,970 | $9,998 | $2,307 | $58 |
| 25th Percentile | $108,360 | $9,030 | $2,084 | $52 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Laboratory Technician IV job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Yosemite Pathology Medical Group
Modesto, CA
Yosemite Pathology Medical Group | Modesto, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Yosemite Pathology (YP) is a private independent pathologist owned and operated surgical pathology and cytology laborator... more
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Job Description. Job Description. At. Centrillion. we are at the forefront of multiple cutting-edge fields in genetics and biotechnology, including spatial... more
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Correlia Biosystems Inc
Berkeley, CA
Correlia Biosystems Inc | Berkeley, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Correlia Biosystems is looking for exceptional new team members to contribute to our manufacturing and assay development ... more
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Los Angeles, CA
Staffing | Los Angeles, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Job Summary. Albertsons is seeking a. QA Laboratory Technician I. to support quality control operations at its Commerce M... more
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Fresno, CA
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Thermal-Vac
Orange, CA
Thermal-Vac | Orange, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Aerospace Metal Finishing/Coatings. Position Summary. Performs routine laboratory testing and process-control activities ... more
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