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Lab Associate Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

Rocket Lab

Senior DevOps Engineer I

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$134K - $172K/yr

CIS, NIST, RFC2196, etc.) • AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate or Professional • Excellent oral, written, and verbal communication skills Company : Rocket Lab is an aerospace company ...

Rocket Lab

Senior DevOps Engineer I

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$134K - $172K/yr

CIS, NIST, RFC2196, etc.) • AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate or Professional • Excellent oral, written, and verbal communication skills Company : Rocket Lab is an aerospace company ...

Rocket Lab

Senior DevOps Engineer I

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$134K - $172K/yr

CIS, NIST, RFC2196, etc.) • AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate or Professional • Excellent oral, written, and verbal communication skills Company : Rocket Lab is an aerospace company ...

Rocket Lab

Senior Manager, DevOps Engineering

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$134K - $172K/yr

Rocket Lab is building the future of space, focusing on innovative solutions for space and defense ... Associate. Preferred : • Master's degree in computer science, engineering, or an equivalent ...

ECPI University

CIS Laboratory Assistant

Manassas, VA · On-site

$18 - $21.50/hr

... with over 50 Associates, Bachelor's and Master's Programs. Our culture is to prioritize our ... Position Summary The lab assistant provides student support through resolving computer problems ...

Merck Group

Associate Scientist 2

Rockville, MD · On-site

$26 - $40/hr

Operates and maintains lab equipment as required by SOPs and testing procedures. * Performs peer ... Associate Degree in a scientific discipline (e.g., Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, etc.) with 2+ ...

Umd

Postdoctoral Associate

College Park, MD

$75K - $80K/yr

The postdoctoral research associate is responsible for developing novel computational methodology ... The Patro lab has a strong commitment to open science, and to developing efficient, robust, usable ...

ARMStaffing

Travel Cardiac Cath Lab RN

Reston, VA · On-site

Cardiac Cath Lab * Discipline: RN * Start Date: ASAP * Duration: 13 weeks * 40 hours per week ... We accomplish this through our total dedication to our clients and field associates, our over 15 ...

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All JobsLab Associate JobsLab Associate Jobs in Washington, DC

Lab Associate information

See Washington, DC salary details

$14

$25

$38

How much do lab associate jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 23, 2026, the average hourly pay for lab associate in Washington, DC is $25.45, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.42 and $28.46 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Lab Associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Lab Associate, you need a solid understanding of laboratory procedures, attention to detail, and typically a degree in a science-related field. Familiarity with laboratory information management systems (LIMS), standard lab equipment, and relevant safety certifications is often required. Strong organizational skills, teamwork, and effective communication set outstanding candidates apart in this role. These skills ensure accurate data collection, safe lab practices, and efficient support for scientific research or clinical testing.

What are Lab Associates?

Lab Associates are professionals who assist in the daily operations of laboratories by performing tasks such as preparing samples, conducting basic experiments, maintaining equipment, and recording data. They typically work under the supervision of scientists or lab managers and help ensure that laboratory procedures are followed safely and accurately. Lab Associates play a crucial role in supporting research and development, quality control, or diagnostic testing in fields like healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and academia. Their responsibilities may vary depending on the specific lab setting and industry.

How much does a lab assistant get paid?

Lab assistants typically earn between $12 and $20 per hour, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of tasks. Entry-level positions may pay closer to the lower end, while those with specialized skills or certifications can earn higher wages. Salaries can also vary based on the industry and work environment.

Which lab job pays the most?

In laboratory settings, senior roles such as Laboratory Managers, Principal Investigators, or specialized research scientists tend to have the highest salaries. These positions often require advanced degrees, extensive experience, and leadership responsibilities, resulting in higher compensation compared to entry-level lab associate roles.

What is the difference between Lab Associate vs Laboratory Technician?

AspectLab AssociateLaboratory Technician
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or associate degree; certifications varyAssociate degree or relevant certification; similar educational background
Work EnvironmentHospitals, research labs, clinicsMedical labs, research facilities, industrial labs
Job ResponsibilitiesSample collection, data entry, basic testingPerforming tests, maintaining equipment, recording results
Employer & Industry UsageHealthcare, research, biotechMedical, industrial, research sectors

Both Lab Associates and Laboratory Technicians work in similar environments and often share educational requirements. The main difference lies in specific job duties, with Laboratory Technicians typically performing more complex tests and equipment maintenance. Understanding these distinctions can help job seekers identify the right role for their skills and career goals.

What are some typical challenges a Lab Associate might face during day-to-day work, and how can they be addressed?

Lab Associates often encounter challenges such as managing multiple experiments simultaneously, ensuring precise documentation, and maintaining equipment. Staying organized by keeping detailed lab notes and using lab management software can help streamline workflow. Clear communication with team members and supervisors is vital to address any issues promptly and maintain a safe, efficient laboratory environment. Regularly scheduled equipment checks and proactive troubleshooting also contribute to smoother operations.

What qualifications do I need to be a lab assistant?

To be a lab associate, candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, with some positions requiring an associate's degree or higher in a relevant field such as biology, chemistry, or laboratory technology. Relevant skills include attention to detail, familiarity with laboratory equipment, and the ability to follow safety protocols; certifications like OSHA training can also be beneficial.

What do lab associates do?

Lab associates perform tasks such as preparing samples, conducting experiments, recording data, and maintaining laboratory equipment. They work under supervision in laboratory environments, often using tools like microscopes and pipettes, and may need relevant certifications or training depending on the industry. Their role supports research, quality control, or diagnostic processes.
What are the most commonly searched types of Lab jobs in Washington, DC? The most popular types of Lab jobs in Washington, DC are:
Lab Associate jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lab Associate job openings in Washington, DC as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $52,931 per year, or $25.4 per hour.
Senior DevOps Engineer I

Senior DevOps Engineer I

Rocket Lab

Chantilly, VA • On-site

$134K - $172K/yr

Full-time

Posted 25 days ago

Rocket Lab rating

9.2

Company rating: 9.2 out of 10

Based on 14 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

2nd of 63 rated aerospace companies

Job description

Job Summary:
Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services and spacecraft design. The Senior DevOps Engineer I will support the U.S. Space Development Agency's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture by automating CI/CD pipelines and deploying applications for advanced Electro-Optical technology.
Responsibilities:
• Support AWS development, test, and production environments
• Collaborate with project leads and team members
• Align with Security and IT for policy assurance
• Develop and support pipelines that include automation and configurations for containers, data management, and release/deployment solutions for programs
• Automate software deployments into varied and complex environments using virtual machines, container technologies, Kubernetes, Cloud environments, and bare metal servers
• Support engagements related to assessing, refactoring and identifying opportunities for existing applications to leverage modern application architectures (e.g. containers)
• Participate in Agile sprints and associated activities
• Support onsite work, as well as travel or offsite work, as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or computer engineering or equivalent discipline with 5-8 years of experience
• Experience in Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud-based development and operations environments
• Active TS/SCI security clearance
Preferred:
• Master’s degree in computer science, engineering, or other technical field
• Experience with architecting solutions in AWS Cloud environments
• Experience in key AWS services (such as EC2, ELB, RDS, Route53, CloudWatch, S3, etc.)
• Experience in supporting DevOps tools and pipeline environments, such as Jira, SharePoint, Bitbucket, Jenkins, SonarQube, and Artifactory
• Experience working with Container technologies (such as Kubernetes, Docker, etc.)
• Proficiency in Linux system administration
• Ability to design, enable, and deliver scalable and automated strategies through Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools, such as Ansible and Terraform
• Experience supporting cloud network resources such as VPC, URL proxies, private link, DNS, ACLs, Security groups, routing tables, etc.
• Background in scripting and/or coding, such as Java, Python, Terraform, and/or Bash
• CompTIA Security+ certification (or in pursuit of)
• Experience with on-premises to cloud migrations or IT transformations
• Experience in database administration; one or more of MySQL, MariaDB, and PostgreSQL
• Experience in AWS ElastiCache for Redis
• Expertise in the Git version control system command line
• Familiarity with Information Security frameworks/standards (i.e. CIS, NIST, RFC2196, etc.)
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate or Professional
• Excellent oral, written, and verbal communication skills
Company:
Rocket Lab is an aerospace company that provides launch services, spacecraft design, and manufacturing of satellite components. Founded in 2006, the company is headquartered in Long Beach, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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