Lab Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Lab Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lab Engineer in the United States is $84,157 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.

However, a Lab Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $95,302
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $77,443 to $89,991
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $71,330
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View as table View as graph 25% $77,443 10% $71,330 90% $95,302 75% $89,991 $84,157 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Lab Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $89,991 $7,499 $1,731 $43
Average $84,157 $7,013 $1,618 $40
25th Percentile $77,443 $6,454 $1,489 $37
Check out Lab Engineer Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Lab Engineer Salaries

A Lab Engineer'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Lab Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lab Engineer'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $64,186
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $85,556
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $100,855
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $123,899
  • Expert (over 8 years): $120,452
Levels Salary
Sales Tra... Level Lab Engineer$64,186
Lab Engin... Level Lab Engineer$85,556
Sales Tra... Level Lab Engineer$100,855
Sales Tra... Level Lab Engineer$123,899
Sales Tra... Level Lab Engineer$120,452
$64,186 0 yr
$85,556 < 2 yrs
$100,855 2-4 yrs
$123,899 5-8 yrs
$120,452 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Lab Engineers

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:

  • San Jose: $106,147
  • San Francisco: $104,985
  • Oakland: $102,773

What Skills Can Increase a Lab Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Coaching (Mentioned in 10.19% Job Postings): Coaching is a form of development in which an experienced person, called a coach, supports a learner or client in achieving a specific personal or professional goal by providing training and guidance.
  • Instructor-Led Training (Mentioned in 1.92% Job Postings): Instructor-led training, or ILT, is the practice of training and learning material between an instructor and learners, either individuals or groups. Instructors can also be referred to as a facilitator, who may be knowledgeable and experienced in the learning material, but can also be used more for their facilitation skills and ability to deliver material to learners. Instructors may deliver training in a lecture or classroom format, as an interactive workshop, as a demonstration with the opportunity for learners to practice, or even virtually, using video-conferencing tools; and the instructor may have facilitation and teaching skills, in which they can use different methods to engage learners and embrace different learning styles. Other learning delivery methods include e-learning which delivers self-paced courses online, and blended learning which mixes instructor-led and e-learning elements.
  • Sales Process (Mentioned in 1.64% Job Postings): Designing and implementing repeatable steps that a salesperson takes to move a prospect from an early-stage lead to a closed customer.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Coaching 10.19%
Instructor-Led Training 1.92%
Sales Process 1.64%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Lab Engineer's salary.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Attention to Detail: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Onboarding: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment
$98,464
17%
Attention to Detail
$95,098
13%
Onboarding
$94,256
12%
CRM
$92,573
10%
Sales Enablement
$92,573
10%
Partnering
$92,573
10%
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Lab Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Lab Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 35% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit and Healthcare sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 14% above the average. In contrast, Lab Engineer positions in Transportation or Pharmaceuticals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lab Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Lab Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$95,939$46.014%
Healthcare$95,098$46.013%
Business Services$94,256$45.012%
Financial Services$93,414$45.011%
Aerospace & Defense$92,573$45.010%

How Education impacts a Lab Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Lab Engineers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Lab Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $81,290 and $86,613).

Lab Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Lab Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 10.0%
Associates 13.3%
Bachelors 55.6%
Masters 15.6%
Doctorate 4.4%
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Lab Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lab Engineer'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.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Lab Engineer

Salaries for a Lab Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $77,902 in 2023 to around $78,535 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Lab Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Lab Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$77,902
2024
$78,412
2025
$78,535
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $77,902
2024 $78,412
2025 $78,535
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Lab Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Lab Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Lab Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Lab Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Lab Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • McDonalds

    Columbus, OH

    McDonalds | Columbus, OH

    McDonald’s is seeking Crew Team Members to assist with daily restaurant operations including customer service, food preparation, and maintaining restaurant... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Strategic Solutions & Delivery. About the Company. Innovative provider of cost containment technology & case management services. Industry.... more

    8 Days Ago

  • MyJobsCorner

    Columbus, OH

    MyJobsCorner | Columbus, OH

    Find your next job here. Will train the right candidate. Average salaries from $12 - $22/Hr, full time and part time shifts available now. Hiring for: Chip... more

    17 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    24 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    29 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    1 Month Ago

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FAQ about Lab Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Lab Engineer?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Lab Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 14% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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