Lab Manager
Oversee laboratory operations ensuring safety, quality, and productivity
About the profession
Lab Managers oversee daily operations of research and clinical laboratories, ensuring safety, quality, and efficient resource use. They manage budgets, equipment, personnel, and compliance with regulatory standards. The role bridges science and management, requiring both technical knowledge and organizational skills.
How to Get Started
Take a personality test to see if Lab Manager fits your profile
Career Match Test →Explore the Career Path section to see progression from junior to senior
Jump to Career Path →Start learning — check the Learning Path for free courses
Jump to Learning Path →Personality Fit
Based on the Lab Manager role, here are the RIASEC personality types that tend to thrive in this career. While these alignments are common, individual success depends on motivation, skill development, and finding the right work environment.
Enterprising
Leading, persuading, business
Social
Helping, teaching, working with people
Conventional
Organizing, detail-oriented, structured
Not sure if these types match you? Take the full RIASEC assessment (4 min) to discover your personality profile and see how it aligns with hundreds of careers.
Career Path
Your career progression roadmap with salary growth at each level
Career Ladder
Lab Technician → Lab Supervisor → Lab Manager → Senior Lab Manager → Director of Laboratory Operations
Where are you on this career path?
Click a level below to set your current position
Salary Growth
5
Levels
$145K
Top Salary
18+
Years
Learning Path
Skills you need to develop and courses to get there
🚀
Set your current level first
Go to the Career Path tab and select your current level to see your personalized learning plan.
Go to Career PathCareer levels
Timeline: 0-3 years | Entry Base: $42,000 - $52,000/year Timeline: 3-7 years | Growing Base: $55,000 - $70,000/year Timeline: 7-12 years | Expert Base: $70,000 - $88,000/year…
Skills used in this career
Click any skill to see how to learn it and what salary boost it gives
Learning Path 0 → Junior
Step-by-step plan from zero to first job
Earn BS in relevant science or laboratory science Gain hands-on laboratory experience Develop understanding of safety and quality protocols Pursue MS or management certifications…
Market 2026–2030
Trends, AI impact, prospects
Growth Rate: Average through 2030 Remote Trend: Stable, on-site presence required Top Industries: Universities, pharma, hospitals, government labs, biotech Geographic Hotspots:…
💰 Pay for Architectural and Engineering Managers
BLS OEWS, May 2023The federal survey does not count this job title on its own — it is counted under Architectural and Engineering Managers (11-9041).
Half of U.S. workers in this occupation earn more than this, half earn less.
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Create Free AccountPersonality types that fit this career
Based on career-match data from our Result Library:
The % is JobCannon’s editorial fit rating (0-100) for how well a result suits this career — not a statistical prediction. How we rate each test’s validity →
🎯 Is Lab Manager right for you?
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Related Reading
Related Holland / RIASEC Types