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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Research Laboratory Manager in Colorado is $123,170 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $59.
However, a Research Laboratory Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Research Laboratory Manager Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $134,920 | $11,243 | $2,595 | $65 |
| Average | $123,170 | $10,264 | $2,369 | $59 |
| 25th Percentile | $109,690 | $9,141 | $2,109 | $53 |
Triax Engineering - Commerce City, CO
Insight Global - Boulder, CO
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus - Aurora, CO
University of Colorado - Aurora, CO
A Research Laboratory Manager'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 Research Laboratory Manager'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 |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Laboratory Supervisor | 4+ years | $85,586 |
| Clinical Laboratory Senior Supervisor | 3-5 years | $100,995 |
| Research Laboratory Manager | 5+ years | $123,164 |
| Clinical Lab Services Senior Manager | 5+ years | $149,491 |
| Research Laboratory Director | 5+ years | $175,180 |
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 Research Laboratory Managers. 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:
Research Laboratory Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $137,882. While startup companies pay approximate $116,645.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $116,645 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $123,366 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $133,149 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $137,882 |
For Research Laboratory Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 51% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Construction and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Research Laboratory Manager positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Research Laboratory Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | $147,804 | $71.0 | 20% |
| Energy & Utilities | $141,646 | $68.0 | 15% |
| Media | $137,950 | $66.0 | 12% |
| Telecom | $136,719 | $66.0 | 11% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $135,487 | $65.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Research Laboratory Manager'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 | $134,920 | $11,243 | $2,595 | $65 |
| Average | $123,170 | $10,264 | $2,369 | $59 |
| 25th Percentile | $109,690 | $9,141 | $2,109 | $53 |
For a Research Laboratory Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Clinical Lab Services Senior Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $149,500 - a projected growth of 21% over your current level.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Research Laboratory Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Convergence Medical Staffing
Glenwood Springs, CO
Convergence Medical Staffing | Glenwood Springs, CO
Medical Technologist - Laboratory. Shift Details: Shift 12:00 AM - 08:01 AM, 5 shifts per week, scheduled hours 40. Job Order Details: Start date 08/25/202... more
7 Days Ago
System One
Arvada, CO
System One | Arvada, CO
Job Description. Job Description. Job Title. Laboratory Technician. Location. Arvada, CO. Type. Contract To Hire. Pay. $21-$22/hr. Hours. Monday-Friday 8am... more
6 Days Ago
Glenwood Medical Associates
Burns, CO
Glenwood Medical Associates | Burns, CO
Description:Come join our team at Glenwood Medical Associates. As a medical laboratory technologist here at GMA, a qualifying candidate will need to be abl... more
7 Days Ago
Eurofins USA Clinical Diagnostics
Centennial, CO
Eurofins USA Clinical Diagnostics | Centennial, CO
Job Description. Job Description. Company Description. Eurofins Scientific is an international life sciences company, providing a unique range of analytica... more
7 Days Ago
HCA Healthcare
Englewood, CO
HCA Healthcare | Englewood, CO
Laboratory Supervisor. Experience the HCA Healthcare difference where colleagues are trusted, valued members of our healthcare team. Grow your career with ... more
7 Days Ago
Actalent
Denver, CO
Actalent | Denver, CO
Lab Assistant I. A Lab Assistant will be working in a high-volume production-based environment performing a vital component of clinical lab science. Respon... more
7 Days Ago
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