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Laboratory Operations Associate Jobs in Columbia, SC

Associates degree from an accredited college/university with a combination of 12 semester hours in ... At least 1 year of clinical laboratory work experience required.   Required Licensure ...

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Laboratory Operations Associate information

See Columbia, SC salary details

$10

$24

$49

How much do laboratory operations associate jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for laboratory operations associate in Columbia, SC is $24.28, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.44 and $28.03 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a laboratory operations associate?

Laboratory Operations Associates are professionals who support the daily functioning of laboratories by managing supplies, maintaining equipment, overseeing safety protocols, and assisting with administrative tasks. They play a crucial role in ensuring that lab environments run efficiently and comply with all regulatory standards. Their responsibilities often include inventory management, equipment calibration, and coordinating with scientists and technicians. This position is essential for smooth laboratory workflow and helps enable scientific research and testing.

What does a laboratory operations associate do?

A typical day for a Laboratory Operations Associate involves preparing and maintaining laboratory equipment, managing inventory of supplies, and ensuring that safety protocols are followed. They often coordinate with scientists, lab technicians, and quality assurance teams to support ongoing experiments or production processes. Their role requires strong organizational skills and attention to detail, as well as the ability to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment. Collaboration and clear communication are key, as they help facilitate smooth lab operations and minimize downtime.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a laboratory operations associate?

To thrive as a Laboratory Operations Associate, you need strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a background in laboratory sciences or related fields, often supported by a bachelor's degree. Familiarity with laboratory information management systems (LIMS), inventory tracking software, and safety protocols is typically required. Excellent communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities help you efficiently support lab workflows and collaborate with scientists and technicians. These skills are critical to maintaining laboratory efficiency, ensuring compliance, and supporting high-quality research outcomes.

What is the difference between Laboratory Operations Associate vs Laboratory Technician?

AspectLaboratory Operations AssociateLaboratory Technician
Required CredentialsAssociate degree or relevant certificationAssociate degree or technical certification
Work EnvironmentLab support, logistics, equipment managementPerforming tests, analyzing samples
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in biotech, pharma, research labsCommon in clinical, research, manufacturing labs
Search & Comparison IntentOften compared for entry-level roles in lab supportCompared for technical testing roles

Laboratory Operations Associates focus on supporting lab functions, logistics, and equipment management, while Laboratory Technicians primarily perform testing and sample analysis. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and are essential in lab environments, but they differ in daily responsibilities and focus areas.

What cities near Columbia, SC are hiring for Laboratory Operations Associate jobs?

Cities near Columbia, SC with the most Laboratory Operations Associate job openings:

Medical Lab Technician II

Lexington Medical Center

West Columbia, SC • On-site

Per diem, Other

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 23 days ago


Lexington Medical Center rating

7.0

Company rating: 7.0 out of 10

Based on 105 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

506th of 1,061 rated hospitals


Job description

Core Lab
PRN
Night Shift
2300-0730
Lexington Health is a comprehensive network of care that includes six community medical and urgent care centers, nearly 80 physician practices, more than 9,000 health care professionals and Lexington Medical Center, a 607-bed teaching hospital in West Columbia, South Carolina. It was selected by Modern Healthcare as one of the Best Places to Work in Healthcare and was first in the state to achieve Magnet with Distinction status for excellence in nursing care. Consistently ranked as best in the Columbia Metro area by U.S. News & World Report, Lexington Health delivers more than 4,000 babies each year, performs more than 34,000 surgeries annually and is the region's third largest employer.
Lexington Health also includes an accredited Cancer Center of Excellence, the state's first HeartCARE Center, the largest skilled nursing facility in the Carolinas, and an Alzheimer's care center. Its postgraduate medical education programs include family medicine and transitional year residencies, as well as an informatics fellowship.
Job Summary
The Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) provides laboratory services for both inpatient and outpatient populations. The MLT ensures excellent quality in laboratory testing and accurate forms of analysis that improve patient outcomes. Performs routine testing that ensures fast, precise information for patient diagnosis and treatment. All responsibilities are carried out in accordance with the mission, vision, and strategic imperatives of Lexington Medical Center.
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum Education: Associate's Degree from a national or international accredited educational institution.
Minimum Years of Experience: 3 Years of experience as an MLT in an accredited clinical laboratory.
Substitutable Education & Experience (Optional): 3 Years of experience as an MLT can be substituted for a Bachelor's Degree.
Required Certifications/Licensure: Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) certification by the American Society of Clinical Pathologist (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) or an equivalent state or governmental certification including:
- National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA) or
- American Medical Technologies (AMT) or
- American Association of Bioanalysts Board of Registry (AAB)
National certification may be at the medical laboratory science (MLT) level or a categorical certification in a recognized discipline of clinical laboratory science (i.e., chemistry, hematology, blood bank, microbiology). With a categorical certification, the employee's practice at LMC will be limited to the category or categories listed by the certifying board.
Required Training: None
Essential Functions
  • The Medical Laboratory Technician performs the following:
    a. Manual laboratory testing (no or little automation).
    b. Automated laboratory testing (requiring instrumentation to complete).
    c. Collection of specimens: May be required to perform venipuncture to include capillary punctures for blood specimens from patients of various ages requiring developmentally appropriate techniques.
  • Performs established laboratory testing according to accreditation requirements and LMC Laboratory established procedures.
  • Exhibits the knowledge and expertise in the following job duties:
    a. Evaluate specimen preparation and handling for test analysis.
    b. Select, perform, evaluate, and monitor the performance of test procedures using anual and /or instrumental techniques.
    c. Conduct quality control procedures on equipment and reagents and reviews and interpret results for acceptability. Perform basic troubleshooting to correct problems.
    d. Perform independently all testing assigned and multi-task as necessary.
    e. Meet and exceed productivity in laboratory testing; promote teamwork among coworkers.
    f. Recognize and react to indicators of malfunctions; locates and implement corrections; verify correct instrument operation using protocols and quality control checks.
    g. Recognize normal and abnormal values; evaluate and correlate data with other test results/diagnosis and report results and problems to appropriate individuals as necessary.
    h. Maintain instruments to include daily, weekly, and periodic maintenance as assigned.
    i. Identify the causes of common problems and make simple repairs; perform troubleshooting of selected equipment, communicate with service, and relay appropriate information.
    j. Maintain proper records for quality control reports, etc.; review such documents as abnormal results, overdue logs/pending logs and take appropriate action. k. Perform correct notification of abnormal results per policy.
    l. Perform additional assignments independently as assigned by the supervisor.
    m. Train new employees/students as assigned.
    n. Achieve and maintain competency for waived, moderate and potentially selected high complexity testing. Competency is evaluated semi-annually the first year of hire and annually thereafter.

Duties & Responsibilities
  • Works with others (e.g. coworkers, nurses and physicians and other healthcare workers, laboratory and hospital administration, patients and families) in a teamwork approach that promotes/encourages each person's contributions toward achieving optimal goals.
  • Informs other personnel of circumstances that may affect the quality of testing and takes the responsibility to initiate appropriate follow-up.
  • Notifies appropriate personnel of critical test results or results that are deemed "alert" values.
  • If interpretation or explanation of test results is sought, the MLT takes the responsibility that the appropriate information is given or referred to a supervisor/pathologist.
  • Courteous and accurate in all communications and follows LMC confidentiality policies.
  • Demonstrates the ability to facilitate learning for coworkers, students, and other members of the health care team and community. This could include both formal and informal facilitation of learning.
  • Maintains established continuing education requirements for national certification and for MLT LMC level requirements.
  • Possesses sensitivity to recognize, appreciate, and incorporate differences into the provision of care. Differences may include, but are limited to, cultural differences, spiritual beliefs, gender, race, ethnicity, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, age and values.
  • Demonstrates clinical reasoning and informed experiential knowledge and skill.
  • Exhibit initiative and leadership skills in problems solving and independent decision-making.
  • Ensure Hazardous Waste or Hazardous Waste
  • Pharmaceuticals are discarded, stored, and managed with other compatible waste streams in containers that are properly labeled and closed prior to being shipped offsite for proper disposal. Initial RCRA training is received within 6 months of the hire date and continuing with annual RCRA training.
  • Performs all other duties as assigned.

We are committed to offering quality, cost-effective benefits choices for our employees and their families:
  • Day ONE medical, dental and life insurance benefits
  • Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
  • Employees are eligible for enrollment into the 403(b) match plan day one. LHI matches dollar for dollar up to 6%.
  • Employer paid life insurance - equal to 1x salary
  • Employee may elect supplemental life insurance with low cost premiums up to 3x salary
  • Adoption assistance
  • LHI provides its full-time employees employer paid short-term disability and long-term disability coverage after 90 days of eligible employment
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Student loan forgiveness

Equal Opportunity Employer
It is the policy of Lexington Health to provide equal opportunity of employment for all individuals, and to remain compliant with applicable state and federal laws and regulations. Lexington Health strives to provide a discrimination-free environment, and to recruit, select, on-board, and employ all employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including but not limited to, lactation. Lexington Health endeavors to upgrade and promote employees from within the hospital where possible and consistent with the employee's desires and abilities and the hospital's needs.

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