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Drug Testing Laboratory Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Laboratory Technician

Nashville, TN · On-site

$18.25 - $24.50/hr

As a US-based outsourcing partner that provides a wide array of expert drug discovery, drug ... The role of the Laboratory Technician may also extend to physical testing of finished products or ...

Specimen Collector II

Nashville, TN · On-site

$19 - $22/hr

Millennium Health LLC is an accredited specialty laboratory with more than a decade of experience in medication monitoring and drug testing services, helping clinicians monitor use of prescription ...

Showing results 21-40

Drug Testing Laboratory information

See Tennessee salary details

$11

$20

$30

How much do drug testing laboratory jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for drug testing laboratory in Tennessee is $20.45, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.59 and $22.02 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Drug Testing Laboratory vs Drug Testing Technician?

AspectDrug Testing LaboratoryDrug Testing Technician
CredentialsLaboratory certifications, scientific degreesTraining in sample collection and testing procedures
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, controlled settingsCollection sites, clinics, workplaces
Industry UsageConducts complex analyses, quality controlPerforms sample collection, initial testing

The Drug Testing Laboratory focuses on detailed analysis and lab-based testing, requiring scientific credentials. In contrast, the Drug Testing Technician primarily handles sample collection and preliminary testing in field or clinical settings. Both roles are essential in the drug testing industry but differ in responsibilities and work environments.

What is a drug testing laboratory?

A drug testing laboratory is a specialized facility that analyzes biological samples, such as urine, blood, hair, or saliva, to detect the presence of drugs or their metabolites. These labs use advanced scientific equipment and strict protocols to ensure accurate and reliable results. Drug testing laboratories are commonly used by employers, law enforcement, sports organizations, and healthcare providers to monitor compliance, ensure safety, or diagnose substance use. Qualified technicians and scientists oversee the process to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of the testing.

What are common challenges faced by professionals working in a drug testing laboratory, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in a drug testing laboratory often face challenges such as maintaining strict chain-of-custody procedures, ensuring accuracy under tight turnaround times, and staying current with evolving testing technologies and regulations. Addressing these challenges requires meticulous attention to detail, ongoing training, and clear communication within the team. Working in a collaborative environment with well-defined protocols helps minimize errors and ensures reliable results, which are critical for compliance and client trust.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a drug testing laboratory technician, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Drug Testing Laboratory Technician, you need a solid background in chemistry or biology, attention to detail, and typically a relevant degree or certification in laboratory sciences. Familiarity with analytical instruments such as gas or liquid chromatography systems, laboratory information management systems (LIMS), and adherence to regulatory protocols like CLIA or ISO standards is essential. Strong organizational skills, integrity, and clear communication help ensure accuracy and maintain chain-of-custody procedures. These abilities are crucial to guarantee precise, reliable test results and uphold the credibility and legal compliance of the laboratory.
What cities in Tennessee are hiring for Drug Testing Laboratory jobs? Cities in Tennessee with the most Drug Testing Laboratory job openings:
Infographic showing various Drug Testing Laboratory job openings in Tennessee as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $42,534 per year, or $20.4 per hour.

Biometrics AI/ML Engineer

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Oak Ridge, TN • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 25 days ago


Oak Ridge National Laboratory rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 16 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

14th of 120 rated laboratories


Job description

Requisition Id 16775
Overview:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is the largest US Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, conducting basic and applied research to deliver transformative solutions to compelling problems in energy and security. The Human Analysis and Biometrics (HAB) group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) conducts research, development, and deployment of human and group recognition technologies to address national security and other worldwide challenges.
We are seeking a technical contributor in AI/ML research to build models and pipelines, design and implement evaluations and benchmarks, and disseminate results through publications and briefings. You will partner with multidisciplinary researchers across ORNL and external collaborators to enable data-driven decision-making in a variety of contextsThis position resides in the Human Analysis and Biometrics Group in the Advanced Intelligent Systems Section, Cyber Resillience and Intelligence Division, National Security Sciences Directorate, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).
Major Duties/Responsibilities:
  • Contributes to requirements definition, design, and development of software applications in supporting the needs of projects as directed by the Principal Investigator and/or software team lead.
  • Develop AI/ML models and systems for diverse data and mission contexts
  • Conduct independent and collaborative research in AI/ML, with a focus on multimodal learning, computer vision, and scientific machine learning
  • Develop novel algorithms and architectures for tasks such as multimodal retrieval, reasoning over complex data, and predictive modeling
  • Design and implement reproducible pipelines for data acquisition, feature engineering, model training, evaluation, packaging, and deployment
  • Help the group envision, design, develop, test, and deploy human analysis and biometric recognition tools and prototypes.
  • Conduct rigorous statistical analysis to aid in data exploration and interpretation
  • Benchmark and T&E AI/ML systems against performance metrics and robustness; define and implement measures of success for deployment-ready systems
  • Disseminate results via technical reports, publications, presentations, and sponsor briefings
  • Visualize and explain complex data and model results to technical and non-technical audiences
  • Contribute to research proposals and statements of work
  • Deliver ORNL's mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace - in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success

Basic Qualifications:
  • A BS degree in computer science, computational science, data science, artificial intelligence, or related field.
  • Experience with agile software development methodologies such as SCRUM.
  • Strong foundation in machine learning, deep learning, or computer vision
  • Strong Python development skills and familiarity with git, CLI tooling, VS Code
  • Proficiency with PyTorch and/or TensorFlow, along with other Python ML development packages; experience building, training, evaluating ML/DL models
  • Experience implementing reproducible data/model pipelines and documenting assumptions, parameters, metrics, and results

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience with predictive modeling and generative AI/LLMs, including RAG systems
  • Familiarity with LLM inference servers (e.g., vLLM, Ollama)
  • Familiarity with high-performance computing (HPC) and distributed training environments
  • Hands-on benchmarking/Test & Evaluation of AI systems
  • Interest in AI applications for safety, risk modeling, or scientific workflows
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory
  • Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs

Special Requirements:
  • Q clearance: This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program.

About ORNL:
As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.
ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.
Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.
If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.
This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.
We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.
If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.
ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.

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