U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsAssist biological and medical scientists in laboratories. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, make observations, and calculate and record results. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72,740 | 2.2 % | $20.48 | $42,600 | 0.6 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $12.15 | $15.05 | $19.11 | $24.63 | $31.19 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $25,280 | $31,310 | $39,750 | $51,230 | $64,880 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 19,770 | 0.68 | $20.45 | $42,530 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 18,640 | 2.96 | $21.67 | $45,060 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 10,960 | 0.54 | $17.83 | $37,090 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 6,420 | 2.40 | $23.76 | $49,410 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 3,560 | 0.07 | $19.60 | $40,770 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 18,640 | 2.96 | $21.67 | $45,060 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 6,420 | 2.40 | $23.76 | $49,410 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 19,770 | 0.68 | $20.45 | $42,530 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 10,960 | 0.54 | $17.83 | $37,090 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | 980 | 0.42 | $18.54 | $38,560 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians | 390 | 0.02 | $30.54 | $63,510 |
| Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers | 170 | 0.09 | $25.42 | $52,880 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 6,420 | 2.40 | $23.76 | $49,410 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | 120 | 0.05 | $22.65 | $47,120 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 870 | 0.02 | $22.38 | $46,550 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 10,630 | 0.74 | 1.33 | $22.91 | $47,660 |
| Massachusetts | 5,730 | 1.79 | 3.21 | $21.79 | $45,320 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,820 | 0.68 | 1.22 | $21.49 | $44,700 |
| Maryland | 3,810 | 1.52 | 2.72 | $23.44 | $48,750 |
| New York | 3,520 | 0.41 | 0.74 | $19.97 | $41,550 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 5,730 | 1.79 | 3.21 | $21.79 | $45,320 |
| Maryland | 3,810 | 1.52 | 2.72 | $23.44 | $48,750 |
| Montana | 650 | 1.50 | 2.68 | $17.09 | $35,540 |
| Idaho | 750 | 1.26 | 2.26 | $15.22 | $31,660 |
| Oregon | 1,980 | 1.23 | 2.20 | $18.40 | $38,280 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 2,450 | 0.65 | 1.16 | $24.82 | $51,630 |
| Connecticut | 1,100 | 0.68 | 1.21 | $24.24 | $50,410 |
| Maryland | 3,810 | 1.52 | 2.72 | $23.44 | $48,750 |
| Minnesota | 1,070 | 0.41 | 0.73 | $23.09 | $48,020 |
| California | 10,630 | 0.74 | 1.33 | $22.91 | $47,660 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division | 4,390 | 2.57 | 4.60 | $22.00 | $45,750 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA | 2,210 | 1.75 | 3.14 | $22.06 | $45,890 |
| Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division | 2,080 | 1.14 | 2.04 | $24.12 | $50,160 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 1,980 | 1.41 | 2.52 | $21.44 | $44,590 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 1,860 | 9.61 | 17.20 | $17.55 | $36,510 |
| Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO | 1,860 | 1.51 | 2.70 | $22.10 | $45,960 |
| Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX | 1,750 | 0.66 | 1.18 | $18.75 | $38,990 |
| Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division | 1,520 | 2.72 | 4.86 | $25.45 | $52,940 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,420 | 0.37 | 0.66 | $22.52 | $46,850 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,380 | 1.22 | 2.19 | $18.24 | $37,930 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corvallis, OR | 360 | 10.73 | 19.22 | $17.84 | $37,100 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 1,860 | 9.61 | 17.20 | $17.55 | $36,510 |
| Ames, IA | 320 | 8.05 | 14.42 | $18.70 | $38,900 |
| Lafayette, IN | 300 | 3.50 | 6.27 | $17.91 | $37,260 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 160 | 3.37 | 6.04 | $12.85 | $26,720 |
| Madison, WI | 1,020 | 3.04 | 5.45 | $19.11 | $39,740 |
| Manhattan, KS | 140 | 2.84 | 5.09 | (8) | (8) |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | 130 | 2.78 | 4.99 | $21.43 | $44,570 |
| Fairbanks, AK | 100 | 2.73 | 4.89 | $19.56 | $40,690 |
| Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division | 1,520 | 2.72 | 4.86 | $25.45 | $52,940 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,260 | 1.26 | 2.25 | $32.83 | $68,290 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | 30 | 0.08 | 0.15 | $29.58 | $61,520 |
| Bloomington, IN | 40 | 0.48 | 0.86 | $29.16 | $60,660 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 230 | 0.29 | 0.52 | $28.12 | $58,490 |
| Trenton-Ewing, NJ | (8) | (8) | (8) | $27.93 | $58,100 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 140 | 0.26 | 0.47 | $26.74 | $55,620 |
| Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, CA | 50 | 0.33 | 0.59 | $26.57 | $55,270 |
| Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division | 1,520 | 2.72 | 4.86 | $25.45 | $52,940 |
| Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,360 | 1.40 | 2.51 | $24.93 | $51,860 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 140 | 1.49 | 2.68 | $24.91 | $51,810 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii / Maui / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | 330 | 2.16 | 3.87 | $14.88 | $30,950 |
| Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | 210 | 3.78 | 6.78 | $15.41 | $32,040 |
| Northwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 1.53 | 2.74 | $15.99 | $33,260 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 150 | 1.66 | 2.96 | $16.19 | $33,660 |
| Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | 150 | 2.53 | 4.53 | $18.09 | $37,630 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | 210 | 3.78 | 6.78 | $15.41 | $32,040 |
| Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | 150 | 2.53 | 4.53 | $18.09 | $37,630 |
| North Idaho nonmetropolitan area | 100 | 2.21 | 3.95 | $16.16 | $33,610 |
| Hawaii / Maui / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | 330 | 2.16 | 3.87 | $14.88 | $30,950 |
| North Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 2.01 | 3.59 | $17.50 | $36,410 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.13 | 0.23 | $22.16 | $46,100 |
| Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 0.56 | 1.01 | $19.98 | $41,550 |
| Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 0.38 | 0.68 | $19.93 | $41,460 |
| Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.28 | 0.50 | $19.72 | $41,020 |
| South Florida nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 0.69 | 1.23 | $19.64 | $40,850 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2012 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2012 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 29, 2013
