Duties

• Laboratory analysts prepare lab equipment and operate instruments during experiments. They monitor progress, record observations during the process and analyze results. Laboratory analysts may draw conclusions based on the findings.
  
  

Education

• Most laboratory analysts have at least an associate degree in an applied science or related field. Others have a bachelor's degree in a natural science.
  
  

Working Conditions

• Laboratory analysts are stationed in labs and usually work standard hours. In some cases, experiments may require 24-hour monitoring, so analysts may work night and weekend shifts. They may be exposed to dangerous chemicals or toxic materials, so proper safety procedures must be followed.
  
  

Salary

• According to Indeed.com, a career information website, the average annual salary for laboratory analysts was $68,000 as of July 2010.
  
  

Employment Outlook

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment for laboratory analysts will increase by 12 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is about as fast a rate as the average for all occupations.