Job Prospects

Many public and private organisations employ scientific laboratory technicians. These include:

• large public limited companies in industry in areas such as cosmetics, textiles, metal, oil and plastic
• hospitals and public health organisations
• specific government departments and agencies or government-funded research institutions
• environmental agencies
• utility companies
• research and forensic science institutions
• food manufacturing companies
• pharmaceutical and chemical companies.

Your career is likely to develop via the following route:

• assistant technician
• technician
• senior/lead technician
• team leader technician
• laboratory manager.

As you progress you’ll take on more responsibility, as well as supervision and management of a team and the laboratory. You’ll carry out more complex tasks, which could include some analysis, and are likely to spend more time in the office.

In order to gain promotion you may need to move to a larger employer or a role in industry where progression is typically more defined. Teams are often larger and therefore provide more roles and management levels.

Taking further qualifications such as a Masters or PhD and acquiring specialist knowledge may enable you to move into scientific research.