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Lab Manager Jobs in Davis, CA (NOW HIRING)

Quality Technician

Woodland, CA · On-site

$22 - $25/hr

Provide coverage in the lab and scale house, as needed * Send out samples for external testing as directed by management * Perform probe sampling * Perform instrument verifications as directed by ...

Provide coverage in the lab and scale house, as needed * Send out samples for external testing as directed by management * Perform probe sampling * Perform instrument verifications as directed by ...

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Lab Manager information

See Davis, CA salary details

$35.1K

$99.4K

$161.1K

How much do lab manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for lab manager in Davis, CA is $99,398.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $75,700.00 and $120,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Lab Manager, you need expertise in laboratory procedures, safety protocols, and scientific analysis, typically supported by a degree in a relevant science field and prior lab experience. Familiarity with laboratory information management systems (LIMS), inventory software, and regulatory compliance certifications such as OSHA or CLIA is often required. Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills help manage teams, coordinate projects, and ensure accurate reporting. These abilities are vital for maintaining efficient lab operations, regulatory compliance, and a safe, collaborative work environment.

What qualifications do you need to be a lab manager?

A lab manager typically needs a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as biology, chemistry, or engineering, along with several years of experience in laboratory settings. Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills are essential, and certifications like OSHA safety training or specific technical licenses can be advantageous.

What is the highest paying job in a laboratory?

The highest paying jobs in a laboratory setting are often senior roles such as Laboratory Directors or Chief Scientific Officers, who oversee operations and research strategies. These positions typically require advanced degrees, extensive experience, and strong leadership skills, and they can earn six-figure salaries depending on the industry and organization.

What does a Lab Manager do?

A Lab Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a laboratory. Their duties typically include supervising staff, ensuring safety protocols are followed, managing inventory and ordering supplies, maintaining equipment, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Lab Managers also coordinate experiments and research activities, and may handle budgeting and administrative tasks. Their role is crucial in ensuring the lab runs efficiently and safely.

Do you need a PhD to be a lab manager?

A PhD is not typically required to be a lab manager; most positions require a bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant field, along with experience in laboratory operations, management skills, and knowledge of lab procedures. Advanced degrees may be preferred for managing research-intensive labs, but practical experience and organizational abilities are often more important.

What are some common challenges faced by Lab Managers when overseeing a diverse research team?

Lab Managers often encounter challenges related to coordinating schedules, managing conflicting priorities among researchers, and ensuring compliance with safety protocols. Balancing administrative duties with hands-on support requires strong organizational skills and adaptability, especially when unexpected issues arise, such as equipment malfunctions or supply shortages. Effective communication is key to fostering collaboration and maintaining a productive work environment, as Lab Managers frequently serve as the bridge between researchers, technicians, and external vendors.

What does a Laboratory Manager do?

A Laboratory Manager oversees daily operations in a laboratory, including managing staff, ensuring safety protocols, maintaining equipment, and coordinating experiments or research activities. They often handle budgeting, compliance with regulations, and may require knowledge of laboratory information management systems (LIMS).

What is the difference between Lab Manager vs Laboratory Technician?

AspectLab ManagerLaboratory Technician
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant science, often with management experienceAssociate's or Bachelor's degree in a science or related field
Work EnvironmentOversees lab operations, manages staff, and ensures compliancePerforms routine tests, prepares samples, and maintains lab equipment
ResponsibilitiesSupervises staff, manages budgets, and coordinates projectsConducts experiments, records data, and maintains lab safety

The main difference between a Lab Manager and a Laboratory Technician lies in their responsibilities and level of oversight. Lab Managers focus on managing lab operations, staff, and compliance, while Laboratory Technicians handle hands-on testing and sample preparation. Both roles require relevant scientific credentials, but Lab Managers typically have more experience and managerial skills.

What are the most commonly searched types of Lab jobs in Davis, CA? The most popular types of Lab jobs in Davis, CA are:
What cities near Davis, CA are hiring for Lab Manager jobs? Cities near Davis, CA with the most Lab Manager job openings:
Auditory Processing Lab_Jr Specialist_Sutter Lab

Auditory Processing Lab_Jr Specialist_Sutter Lab

University of California - Davis

Davis, CA • On-site

$55K/yr

Other

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


University Of California Davis rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 43 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

179th of 553 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Position overview
Salary range: A reasonable estimate for this position is $55,000 at Step 1 or $58,600 at Step 2
Application Window

Open date: October 31, 2025

Most recent review date: Monday, Jun 8, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date: Monday, Aug 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

Auditory Processing Lab Junior Specialist
UC Davis Junior Specialist Recruitment
Apply via : https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07386
For full consideration, apply by 15 days after posting

DESCRIPTION - The Sutter lab studies the neural basis of sound processing, and how attention and decisions and learning modify this processing. We also study how visual stimuli influence neural activity in auditory cortex.
Our research involves recording from many individual neurons simultaneously to understand each neuron's role in the processing and how populations of many neurons are involved in the processing.
We are seeking a bright, motivated, detail-oriented, organized, and resourceful individual to join our research team. Responsibilities will focus on research (e.g., initially mainly data collection, and progressing to analysis; 90% time), including coordinating with the lab manager for administration requirements of the research (the lab manager will primarily conduct these activities which include handling the non-human subjects, providing enrichment to them, logging amounts of fluid and food they receive, etc,).

Some knowledge of Neuroscience, Psychology, Engineering, and/or Matlab programming is helpful. Since the analyses will be performed later the programming can be learned. We initially will be focusing on setting up a new array-based recording system and recording from neurons which requires a lot of attention to detail, and simultaneously monitoring the activity of task performance by a non-human subject, as well as potentially hundreds of neurons. Ideally the candidate will have one year of research experience, strong organizational skills, and self-motivation. Previous research assistants from our lab have continued on to top neuroscience, medical, psychology and primatology PhD, MD and MD/PhD programs.

DEGREE REQUIREMENT - Bachelor's Degree in neuroscience, bioengineering, psychology, or a related field.

RESEARCH - 90%
The incumbent will focus on helping set up and using a new system to record from single neurons in auditory cortex. The incumbent will be involved in data collection (main contribution at first), data analysis, and publication of the results. Much of the planned research will build on prior work in the lab. The data collection system is a multi-contact probed capable of recording from several hundreds of neurons at a time. The incumbent will also be responsible for keeping records related to the experiments, and training and mentoring undergraduate volunteers. The incumbent may have the opportunity to creatively contribute to the research by proposing alternative analysis strategies, generate novel projects with existing data and review literature for manuscript preparation. The incumbent will be actively and significantly involved in publishable research activities, including reading journal articles and engaging in discussions on research and the interpretation of research results with PI and others in the lab. The incumbent will spend a marginal amount of time assisting the current lab manager with administrative tasks, including the maintenance of animals protocols, logging essential data related to the health and well being of the non-human subjects

Data Collection and Analysis
* Complete required training to work in the lab.
* Collect and analyze data related to non-human subjects performing a behavioral task
* Record from 4 to several hundred simultaneously recorded neurons while subject are performing the behavioral task.
* Spike sort to separate individual neurons from the electrode recording based on their action potential waveform
* Analyze the data related to behavior and how single neurons and populations of neurons respond to and encode auditory and visual stimuli as a function of attention condition.
* Log fluid-intake, food-intake, and other health-related metrics of non-human subjects
* Assist in surgeries for non-human subjects
* Coordinate research collaborations with faculty at UC Davis (Mainly center for Neuroscience); training will occur in the Sutter Lab in conjunction with other labs
* Maintain databases of all study data.
* Mentor undergraduate research assistants
* Maintain organized records

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE - 5%
The incumbent may have the opportunity to submit data for presentation at relevant conferences, such as Society for Neuroscience (if funding is available).
* Actively participate in weekly lab meetings, journal club presentations, presentations from outside speakers, and weekly workshops to help incumbents develop their career goals.

UNIVERSITY SERVICE - 5%
* The incumbent will mentor undergraduate student assistants in the lab.
* The incumbent will participate in public outreach activities

Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

* BS/BA in Neuroscience, Bioengineering, psychology or a related field.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

* The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal, communication, and decision-making skills
* The ability to work well independently and as part of a team.
* Experience with animal handling
* Strong time management skills
* Excellent attention to detail and ability to maintain detailed and accurate records
* Superior problem solving, deductive reasoning, and decision-making skills
* Ability to commit to lengthy, complex projects

Preferred qualifications (other preferred, but not required, qualifications for the position)

* Previous lab experience (with references) preferred.

Application Requirements
Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter

  • Authorization to Release Information Form - This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form.

Reference requirements
  • 2-3 required (contact information only)
Apply link: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07386

Help contact: jaenoch@ucdavis.edu

About UC Davis

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

  • "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
  • UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
  • UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
  • APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state for federal law.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check.

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees and students. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service are embodied by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values. A variety of resources and programs are available to academics, staff, and students that reflect the core values reflected in our strategic plan: "To Boldly Go," our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs' Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400.

UC Davis is also a national leader in inclusive practice. There are numerous links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our administration, campus rankings, locations, campus safety, sustainability, visiting UC Davis and UC Davis Health.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.

The University of California and UC Davis are committed to offering a wide variety of benefits for employees. The University of California Employee benefits and UC Davis New Employee benefits webpages have additional information.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Job location
Davis, CA

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