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Lab Manager Jobs in Des Plaines, IL (NOW HIRING)

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Lab Manager information

See Des Plaines, IL salary details

$31.7K

$89.6K

$145.2K

How much do lab manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for lab manager in Des Plaines, IL is $89,613.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $68,200.00 and $108,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

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 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 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.

How much does a lab manager make?

The average salary for a lab manager in California ranges from $70,000 to $110,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and the industry sector. Salaries may also vary based on the size of the laboratory and specific responsibilities, such as overseeing staff, managing budgets, or ensuring compliance with safety standards.

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 experience in laboratory operations. Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills are essential, and certifications like OSHA safety training or specific technical certifications can be advantageous.
More about Lab Manager jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Lab jobs in Des Plaines, IL?

The most popular types of Lab jobs in Des Plaines, IL are:

What cities near Des Plaines, IL are hiring for Lab Manager jobs?

Cities near Des Plaines, IL with the most Lab Manager job openings:

Lab Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lab Manager job openings in Des Plaines, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 17% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $89,613 per year, or $43.1 per hour.

ALS Lab Manager

Chicago, IL

Contact Government Services, LLC
Public Administration • 11 - 50 employees
Learn more about Contact Government Services, LLCexternal

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 26 days ago

Job description

Automated Litigation Support Lab Manager 
Employment Type: Full-Time, Experienced
Department: Finance

As a CGS ALS Lab Manager, you will leverage industry knowledge, and market research, and have wide-ranging experiences across operating systems and coding languages. You will serve as the lead manager responsible for the delivery of lab data processing services and be responsible for ensuring that incoming productions are made pursuant to the applicable ESI specifications and providing the case attorney with detailed notice of deficiencies.

CGS brings motivated, highly skilled, and creative people together to solve the government's most dynamic problems with cutting-edge technology. To carry out our mission, we are seeking candidates who are excited to contribute to government innovation, appreciate collaboration, and can anticipate the needs of others. Here at CGS, we offer an environment in which our employees feel supported, and we encourage professional growth through various learning opportunities.
 
Skills and attributes for success:
- Serves as the lead manager responsible for delivery of lab data processing services.
- Primarily ensures timely and accurate completion of tasks.  Performs analysis, development and implementation of processing approaches for electronic files and related services pursuant to applicable ESI specifications.
- Consults with attorneys and support staff on best practices for conforming to ESI specifications and, as required, participates in teleconferences with co-counsel, client agencies, and opposing counsel upon attorney request.
- Responsible for ensuring that incoming productions are made pursuant to the applicable ESI specifications and when deficiencies are found, provides case attorney with detailed notice of deficiencies.
- Responsible for keeping the client informed on activities in the Lab, e.g. deadlines, technical challenges, and availability of resources to complete work.
- Responsible for webhosting support for unsupported cases managed by the lab.
- Manages a team of eDiscovery professionals situated in a client-site eDiscovery laboratory, including: scheduling, requirements assessments, assigning work and ensuring deadlines are met, creating progress reports, and Quality Control (QC) of deliverables.
- Advises client attorneys, paralegals, and case managers on all phases of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM); especially: Data Collection, Processing, Hosting, Review, Analytics, and Production.

Qualifications:
- Extensive Relativity experience required.
- Relativity certifications including Relativity Certified Administrator (RCA) and/or Relativity Analytics Specialist strongly preferred.
- At least eight years of experience performing eDiscovery roles including but not limited to electronic files processing (EFP), image and data file conversion, data culling using review tools, quality assurance, database loads and retrieval, and data analysis and review.
- At least five years of experience at the management/supervisory level.
- Requires thorough knowledge of the litigation discovery process, and the EDRM workflow.
- Working knowledge and certifications of document review software such as iConect, Relativity, Venio or similar tools.
- Undergraduate degree required, preferably in computer science or related field.  Only the Contracting Officer can approve a waiver of the degree requirement.

Ideally, you will also have:
- Experience with litigation support tools such as LAW, IPRO, Concordance, MS Office Suite, and LiveNote highly valued.

Our Commitment:
Contact Government Services (CGS) strives to simplify and enhance government bureaucracy through the optimization of human, technical, and financial resources. We combine cutting-edge technology with world-class personnel to deliver customized solutions that fit our client's specific needs. We are committed to solving the most challenging and dynamic problems.

For the past seven years, we've been growing our government-contracting portfolio, and along the way, we've created valuable partnerships by demonstrating a commitment to honesty, professionalism, and quality work.
Here at CGS we value honesty through hard work and self-awareness, professionalism in all we do, and to deliver the best quality to our consumers mending those relations for years to come.

We care about our employees. Therefore, we offer a comprehensive benefits package.
- Health, Dental, and Vision
- Life Insurance
- 401k
- Flexible Spending Account (Health, Dependent Care, and Commuter)
- Paid Time Off and Observance of State/Federal Holidays

Contact Government Services, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants will be considered without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Join our team and become part of government innovation!
Explore additional job opportunities with CGS on our Job Board:
https://cgsfederal.com/join-our-team/
For more information about CGS please visit: https://www.cgsfederal.com or contact:
Email: [email protected]

#CJ
$102,890.67 - $139,637.34 a year
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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