1

Lab Support Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Job Title Lab Support Coordinator Location(s) Customer Site - MD, Gaithersburg We are looking for a highly motivated Lab Support Coordinator to provide critical lab support as part of a dynamic ...

Aviation Mission Systems Cyber Support

Washington, DC · On-site

$64.75 - $79.50/hr

Required for lab support, briefings, and classified document access. * Telework: Allowed for certain tasks with COR approval; however, frequent onsite support is required. * Schedule: Monday-Friday ...

Aviation Mission Systems Cyber Support

Washington, DC · Hybrid

$64.75 - $79.50/hr

Required for lab support, briefings, and classified document access. * Telework: Allowed for certain tasks with COR approval; however, frequent onsite support is required. * Schedule: Monday-Friday ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Lab Support information

See Washington salary details

$16

$26

$44

How much do lab support jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for lab support in Washington is $26.45, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.67 and $29.95 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Which lab job pays the most?

In laboratory support roles, senior positions such as Laboratory Managers or Lead Technicians tend to have the highest salaries, often exceeding $70,000 annually. Specialized roles requiring advanced certifications or expertise in areas like clinical chemistry or molecular biology can also command higher pay. Salary varies based on experience, location, and the complexity of the work performed.

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

To thrive as a Lab Support professional, you need a solid understanding of laboratory procedures, safety protocols, and basic scientific principles, often backed by a degree or coursework in a science-related field. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, inventory management systems, and safety certification (such as OSHA) is typically required. Attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and effective communication are valuable soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure accurate experiment support, maintain a safe work environment, and enable smooth laboratory operations.

What are some common challenges faced by Lab Support professionals, and how can they be addressed?

Lab Support professionals often face challenges such as managing multiple tasks simultaneously, maintaining equipment, and ensuring compliance with safety protocols. Balancing the demands of supporting researchers while handling routine maintenance requires strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Effective communication with scientists and other team members can help prioritize urgent tasks and streamline workflows. Regular training and proactive equipment checks can also minimize disruptions and help Lab Support staff stay ahead of potential issues.

What qualifications do I need to be a lab assistant?

To be a lab support worker, candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, along with basic knowledge of laboratory procedures and safety protocols. Some positions may require relevant coursework or certifications in laboratory techniques or science, and strong attention to detail and organizational skills are important.

What exactly does a lab assistant do?

A lab assistant supports laboratory operations by preparing samples, maintaining equipment, recording data, and ensuring safety protocols are followed. They often work under the supervision of scientists or technicians and may need knowledge of lab procedures and basic technical skills.

How much does a lab assistant get paid?

Lab assistants typically earn between $25,000 and $45,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the specific laboratory setting. Entry-level positions may start lower, while those with specialized skills or certifications can earn higher salaries. Pay can also vary based on whether the role is in a research, clinical, or industrial lab environment.

What are lab support roles?

Lab support roles refer to positions that assist scientists, researchers, or technicians in maintaining laboratory operations. Responsibilities typically include preparing equipment and materials, cleaning and sterilizing instruments, managing inventory, and ensuring lab safety protocols are followed. Lab support staff play a critical role in keeping experiments and research running smoothly by handling essential tasks that allow researchers to focus on scientific work. These roles can be found in academic, clinical, or industrial laboratories.

What is the difference between Lab Support vs Lab Technician?

AspectLab SupportLab Technician
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; on-the-job trainingAssociate degree or certification in laboratory sciences
Work EnvironmentAssisting lab staff, preparing materials, cleaning equipmentPerforming tests, analyzing samples, recording data
Employer & Industry UsageHospitals, clinics, research labsMedical labs, research institutions, diagnostic centers

Lab Support roles typically involve assisting laboratory staff with preparation and maintenance tasks, requiring minimal formal education. Lab Technicians perform more technical tasks like testing and analysis, often requiring specialized certifications. Both roles are essential in laboratory settings, but Lab Technicians have more technical responsibilities and qualifications.

What cities in Washington are hiring for Lab Support jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Lab Support job openings:
Infographic showing various Lab Support job openings in Washington as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 72% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 14% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $55,010 per year, or $26.4 per hour.

Lab Support Coordinator

PerkinElmer

Gaithersburg, MD • On-site

Full-time

Posted 17 days ago


PerkinElmer rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

When joining PerkinElmer, you select an experienced and trusted leader in scientific solutions, with the support of a global service network and distribution centers, providing the right solution, at the right time, to meet critical customer needs. With over an 80+ year legacy of advancing science and a mission of innovating for a healthier world, our dedicated team collaborates closely with commercial, government, academic and healthcare customers to deliver our broad portfolio of analytical solutions, and OneSource services.

Job TitleLab Support Coordinator
Location(s)Customer Site - MD, Gaithersburg

Job Description

We are looking for a highly motivated Lab Support Coordinator to provide critical lab support as part of a dynamic PerkinElmer lab service team. The role's purpose is to provide a coordinated service to research groups as part of the Scientific Services Lab Resource Coordinator team. The goal is to enable smooth facilitation and effective function of the working environment by providing a single point of contact to ensure the smooth running of the laboratory environment. The Lab Support Coordinator will typically lead the coordination of services for a designated building or location.

This role is located full-time onsite at our customer site in Gaithersburg, MD.

Responsibilities:

  • Serve as point of contact for customer lab staff, facilitating and coordinating laboratory needs and activities.

  • This role will work closely with other teams to seamlessly deliver lab support services.

  • Help coordinate the working lab environment daily and oversee all stock items in and near the labs including but not limited to glassware, lab coats, PPE, consumables.

  • Occasionally support / coordinate waste removal from labs, ensuring use of waste streams with appropriate third-party vendors.

  • Act as the liaison for escorting third-party vendors to customer lab staff for maintenance and/or repairs visits.

  • Meet regularly with key stakeholders (lab staff, service providers, management) to identify, review and resolve issues in a timely manner and/or escalate as necessary.

  • Regularly engage with the customer and PerkinElmer staff to ensure quality and compliance within the laboratory.

  • Collaborate with customer line safety reps to ensure a high level of safety is maintained in the lab.

  • Provide updates and timely communication to lab users on service work requests.

  • Provide a general induction/orientation for new members of customer staff and visitors.

  • Once certified, provide coordination of a 5S (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain) lean service.

  • Required to cross-train and provide back-up to other lab support areas.

  • Complete relevant paperwork according to principles of Good Documentation Practice.

  • Subject Matter Expert (SME) on various support needs across different buildings/floors/locations.

  • Actively participate on committee(s) supporting LSC's across PerkinElmer and the customer sites with a focus on providing guidance through presentation and document creation.

  • Help facilitate meetings with the ability to communicate from an area of expertise of LSC functions.

  • Assist with freezer, refrigerator, and cold room clean outs.

  • Communicate cold space outages to lab staff, track cold inventory moves and disseminate expected cold repair times to lab teams.

  • Maintain training and compliance in areas of health and safety, security, environmental and operational aspects of daily activities in the working environment.

  • May be required to provide on-call service for specific controlled temperature units in the lab areas. Hours are between 5:00pm-7:30am Monday thru Sunday.

  • Tasks include but are not limited to transfer of contents from failing fridges and incubators to designated back up units, photograph item placement before & after relocations, properly document failures, provide a work order of failing unit to the facilities team and inform respective end-users about the transfer via email based on the SOP instructions

Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities of this job at any time

Basic Qualifications:

  • Associates Degree with 1+ years' experience in a customer-facing role within a scientific environment OR

  • High School Diploma with 2+ years' experience in a customer-facing role within a scientific environment

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Certification/Associates Degree in relevant field (Project Management, 6-Sigma, Business Administration, Supply Chain) and 1-2 years of experience in a customer-facing role within a scientific environment.

  • Strong understanding of GLP/GxP and/or experience working in a compliance driven environment.

  • Experience with 5S (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain) principles

  • Sufficient knowledge to independently carry out duties of chemical and safe handling practices.

  • Intermediate knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety

Critical Skills:

  • Demonstrates appropriate use of office equipment/software after training.

  • Self-motivated and ability to work under pressure to balance conflicting deadlines.

  • Good interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills

  • Ability to follow oral and written directions.

  • Technical problem-solving skills and attention to details.

  • Excellent customer service skills complemented by an ability to listen to and interpret client requests.

  • Initiative driven with proactive skill set to improve processes.

  • Ability to read and interpret chemical labeling and hazardous signage.

  • Able to complete relevant paperwork according to principles of Good Documentation Practice.

  • Intermediate MS Office Skills: Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel

Working Environment:

  • Must be able to work in a laboratory, controlled environments requiring personal protective equipment (e.g., lab coat, safety glasses, etc.) in laboratory.

  • Job pace may be fast and job completion demands may be high.

  • Must be able to remain in a stationary position more than 25% of the time

  • The person needs to occasionally move between labs, corridors, adjoining rooms, and buildings onsite. Frequently operate on instruments, objects, tools or controls, which will require regular bending, squatting, stretching and reaching in order to perform a service function.

  • Occasionally move or lift up to 25 pounds (potential for occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds).

  • Specific vision abilities required by this position include without limitation, the ability to observe details at close range distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus in order to perform the essential service functions of this position.

  • Occasionally operates a computer and other office machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.

  • Employee may be required to handle hazardous waste according to local, state, and federal regulations. Duties may include identifying, handling, generating, accumulating, storing and labeling hazardous waste.

  • Potential risk to lab-based hazards including but not limited to extreme temperature, biological materials, hazardous chemicals.

The annual compensation range for this full-time position is $50,000 to $60,000. The final base pay offered to the successful candidate will be determined by factors including internal equity, work location, as well as individual qualifications, such as job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

PerkinElmer is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, or veteran status or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. PerkinElmer is committed to a culturally diverse workforce.

What PerkinElmer employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom