Testing Laboratories — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the testing laboratories industry earns $92,860 per year ($44.64/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$92,860
Avg Annual Pay
174,645
Total Employees
11,471
Total Establishments
15
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Testing Laboratories Workers Earn?

At $92,860/year (equivalent to $44.64/hour for a full-time worker), testing laboratories wages are significantly above the national average of ~$65,000.

Higher wages in this industry typically reflect specialized skills, professional certifications, or technical expertise required for the work. Employers competing for talent in this space face elevated labor costs.

The typical testing laboratories business employs 15 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

34.7%

For the average testing laboratories business generating $4.0M/year with 15 employees at $92,860 each, total payroll represents roughly 34.7% of revenue. Labor is a significant cost but leaves room for other expenses and profit.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a testing laboratoriesbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $120,718/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 15 employees = ~$1,392,900/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $44.64/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $4.0M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Testing Laboratories revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do testing laboratories employees make?
The average testing laboratories employee earns $92,860 per year, which is equivalent to $44.64/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the testing laboratories industry?
The testing laboratories industry employs 174,645 workers across 11,471 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 15 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).