Steps to Become a Laboratory Assistant: A Comprehensive Guide for Starting a Career in the Scientific Field

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Becoming a Lab Assistant with No Experience
Laboratory assistants support the scientists and technologists who run medical and research labs. They prepare samples, keep equipment clean and stocked, record results, and follow safety rules.

Laboratory assistants support the scientists and technologists who run medical and research labs. They prepare samples, keep equipment clean and stocked, record results, and follow safety rules. It is hands-on work that suits careful, organized people.

Most lab assistant roles ask for a high school diploma plus some science coursework or a certificate. An associate degree in a science field helps. Employers value real lab experience, so internships, volunteer lab work, or a school lab course all count.

Related roles need more schooling. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians perform the actual tests on patient samples. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported median pay of $53,120 per year for these workers in 2019, and projected employment to grow 7 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than average. A bachelor’s degree is the usual entry point for technologist roles.

To get started, take biology and chemistry classes, learn basic lab safety, and look for entry-level openings in hospitals, clinics, and testing labs. Certification is not always required, but it can help you stand out.

If science work appeals to you, read chemistry careers unveiled and our overview of biochemistry for related paths and public health careers and their impact for the bigger picture.

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