Laboratory Technician Job Description
Create a clear, role-specific advert that attracts candidates with practical laboratory skills and strong adherence to safety and quality procedures. This template helps you set expectations around techniques, record keeping and working patterns so you find applicants who can contribute from day one.
What does a Laboratory Technician professional do?
A Laboratory Technician carries out routine and specialised laboratory tasks — preparing and analysing samples, operating and maintaining equipment, keeping accurate records and supporting quality and safety systems to enable robust scientific work.
Laboratory Technician job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Laboratory Technician
About the role
[Company Name] is seeking a practical and methodical Laboratory Technician to join our team at [Location]. You will prepare and analyse samples, run routine assays, maintain and calibrate equipment in line with standard operating procedures, and record results accurately to support quality control and research or production activities. This role is [full-time/part-time], [permanent/temporary] and requires attention to detail and safe working practice.
Key responsibilities
- Prepare, label and process samples according to established protocols and chain-of-custody procedures.
- Perform routine laboratory tests and assays using techniques relevant to the sector (wet chemistry, microscopy, basic molecular techniques, etc.).
- Operate, clean and perform first-line maintenance and calibration of laboratory equipment and instruments.
- Record, validate and report test results accurately in lab notebooks, spreadsheets or LIMS, following SOPs and data integrity expectations.
- Follow health, safety and waste disposal procedures including COSHH risk assessments and the correct use of PPE.
- Support quality-control and quality-assurance activities, including running controls, recording deviations and participating in audits.
- Order, store and organise consumables and reagents; check stock levels and report shortages.
- Assist scientists, analysts or senior technicians with experimental set-ups, data collection and routine troubleshooting.
Essential skills and experience
- Practical laboratory experience from previous roles, placements or academic work.
- Ability to follow written procedures and standard operating procedures (SOPs) accurately.
- Good attention to detail and reliable record-keeping skills.
- Understanding of basic laboratory health and safety principles, including safe handling of chemicals and biological material.
- Numeracy and basic IT skills for data entry and result reporting (spreadsheets, electronic records).
- Good communication and ability to work cooperatively within a team.
Desirable
- A vocational or academic qualification in a relevant subject (BTEC, HND, Foundation degree or BSc) or equivalent practical experience.
- Experience with laboratory information management systems (LIMS) or electronic lab notebooks.
- Practical knowledge of specific techniques or instrumentation used in your lab (e.g. chromatography, spectrophotometry, PCR, microscopy).
- Familiarity with quality systems such as GLP, ISO 17025 or internal QA processes.
- Previous experience in the same sector (pharmaceuticals, clinical, environmental, food testing or academic research).
What we offer
- [Insert salary or pay band]
- Pension scheme (details to be provided)
- Holiday allowance [insert entitlement]
- Training and professional development budget
- Paid sick leave
- Flexible working / shift patterns where applicable
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Laboratory Technician role?
A Laboratory Technician provides hands-on technical support within scientific, clinical, environmental or industrial laboratories. They prepare and process samples, operate and maintain instruments, collect and record data, and help maintain laboratory safety and quality standards. Technicians enable scientists and analysts to run experiments and production reliably by ensuring equipment is kept serviceable and results are documented correctly.
Hands‑on testing
Carry out routine assays, sample preparation and basic analytical techniques required by the department.
Safety & compliance
Follow COSHH and local safety procedures, maintain accurate records and support quality-control processes.
Equipment & maintenance
Operate, clean and perform first-line maintenance and calibration on laboratory instruments.
Typical Laboratory Technician responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Prepare
Prepare, label and process samples according to established protocols and chain-of-custody procedures.
Perform routine laboratory tests
Perform routine laboratory tests and assays using techniques relevant to the sector (wet chemistry, microscopy, basic molecular techniques, etc.).
Operate
Operate, clean and perform first-line maintenance and calibration of laboratory equipment and instruments.
Record
Record, validate and report test results accurately in lab notebooks, spreadsheets or LIMS, following SOPs and data integrity expectations.
Follow health
Follow health, safety and waste disposal procedures including COSHH risk assessments and the correct use of PPE.
Support quality-control
Support quality-control and quality-assurance activities, including running controls, recording deviations and participating in audits.
Order
Order, store and organise consumables and reagents; check stock levels and report shortages.
Assist scientists
Assist scientists, analysts or senior technicians with experimental set-ups, data collection and routine troubleshooting.
Laboratory Technician skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Practical laboratory experience from previous roles, placements or academic work.
- Ability to follow written procedures and standard operating procedures (SOPs) accurately.
- Good attention to detail and reliable record-keeping skills.
- Understanding of basic laboratory health and safety principles, including safe handling of chemicals and biological material.
- Numeracy and basic IT skills for data entry and result reporting (spreadsheets, electronic records).
- Good communication and ability to work cooperatively within a team.
Useful where relevant
- A vocational or academic qualification in a relevant subject (BTEC, HND, Foundation degree or BSc) or equivalent practical experience.
- Experience with laboratory information management systems (LIMS) or electronic lab notebooks.
- Practical knowledge of specific techniques or instrumentation used in your lab (e.g. chromatography, spectrophotometry, PCR, microscopy).
- Familiarity with quality systems such as GLP, ISO 17025 or internal QA processes.
- Previous experience in the same sector (pharmaceuticals, clinical, environmental, food testing or academic research).
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Laboratory Technician job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Specify the sector and sample types
State whether the role is clinical, environmental, food, pharmaceutical or research so candidates understand the sample types and regulations involved.
List the essential techniques
Name the core techniques or instruments you expect the candidate to use (for example, HPLC, microscopy or PCR) to screen for relevant experience.
Be clear about shifts and contract type
Indicate working hours, shift patterns, and whether the role is permanent, fixed-term or temporary to reduce unsuitable applications.
Highlight training and progression
Mention any on-the-job training, CPD or progression routes to attract candidates looking to grow their technical skills.
Avoid vague requirements
Prefer demonstrable experience or specific qualifications over broad statements like 'good science background' to make shortlisting faster.
Laboratory Technician salary considerations
Lab technician pay varies widely depending on the employer, sector and candidate experience. When setting a salary range, consider factors that commonly influence pay for these roles rather than quoting a single market figure.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Laboratory Technician candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
What are the working hours and shift patterns?
Candidates will want to know start/finish times, whether there are night or weekend shifts, and how overtime is handled.
What training and development is provided?
Experienced applicants often look for information on internal training, support for qualifications and career progression.
What types of samples and techniques will I work with?
Specify whether work is focused on clinical samples, environmental testing, routine QC or R&D and name common assays or instruments.
What health, safety or occupational checks are required?
Make clear any occupational health checks, vaccinations or specific PPE requirements linked to the role or sample types.
Who will I report to and how large is the team?
Candidates want to understand supervision levels, team size and whether the role is largely independent or part of a larger group.
Is the role permanent, temporary or on a fixed-term contract?
Clarify contract length and notice periods so applicants can assess suitability for their circumstances.
Where to post a Laboratory Technician job
Think about where candidates with practical laboratory skills spend time: broad UK job boards reach high volumes, while specialist science job sites, university careers services and professional networks attract applicants with relevant technical training. For short-term or shift roles, local colleges, apprenticeship networks and specialist temporary staffing agencies can be especially effective.
Laboratory Technician job description FAQs
Do Laboratory Technicians need a degree?
Not always. Many roles accept vocational qualifications (BTEC/HND), apprenticeships or demonstrable practical experience. For specialist or senior positions, a degree may be preferred.
What checks should employers perform?
Standard checks include identity, references and right to work. Occupational health screening may be required for roles involving biological hazards; DBS checks are usually only necessary for roles working with vulnerable people.
How do I assess practical competence?
Use short technical assessments, request examples of past laboratory work, or invite shortlisted candidates for a practical task or observed techniques session where safe and feasible.
Should I advertise the exact instruments used?
Yes. Listing key equipment and techniques helps attract candidates with directly relevant experience and reduces unsuitable applications.
How long should onboarding and training take?
Onboarding for routine technician duties typically takes a few weeks for SOP familiarisation and supervised practice; full competence on specialised equipment may take several months depending on complexity.
Can I hire temporary technicians for short projects?
Yes. Temporary or contract staff are commonly used for peak workloads or short projects; consider engaging specialist agencies with science sector experience to source suitably competent candidates quickly.
Ready to publish this vacancy?
Customise the advert copy and placeholders above with your company details, working hours and any sector-specific requirements. When you’re ready, distribute the vacancy across the recommended channels or contact a specialist recruiter to amplify reach.
