Laboratory Technician Average Salary in Canada 2020
How much money does a Laboratory Technician make in Canada?
LOW
43,900
CAD AVERAGE
93,400
CAD HIGH
148,000
CAD
A person working as a Laboratory Technician in Canada typically earns around 93,400 CAD per year. Salaries range from 43,900 CAD (lowest) to 148,000 CAD (highest).
This is the average yearly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Laboratory Technician salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Laboratory Technician Salary Distribution in Canada
The median, the maximum, the minimum, and the range
Salary Range
Laboratory Technician salaries in Canada range from 43,900 CAD per year (minimum salary) to 148,000 CAD per year (maximum salary).
Median Salary
The median salary is 99,000 CAD per year, which means that half (50%) of people working as Laboratory Technician(s) are earning less than 99,000 CAD while the other half are earning more than 99,000 CAD. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Percentiles
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of Laboratory Technician(s) are earning less than 64,300 CAD while 75% of them are earning more than 64,300 CAD. Also from the diagram, 75% of Laboratory Technician(s) are earning less than 131,000 CAD while 25% are earning more than 131,000 CAD.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
Laboratory Technician Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does experience and age affect your pay?
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher your wage. We broke down Laboratory Technician salaries by experience level and this is what we found.
A Laboratory Technician with less than two years of experience makes approximately 50,600 CAD per year.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 69,800 CAD per year, 38% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 99,400 CAD per year, 42% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, Laboratory Technician(s) whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 121,000 CAD per year, 22% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 128,000 CAD per year, 6% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 139,000 CAD per year, 9% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Laboratory Technician average salary change by experience in Canada
| 0 - 2 Years | 50,600 CAD | |
| 2 - 5 Years | +38% | 69,800 CAD |
| 5 - 10 Years | +42% | 99,400 CAD |
| 10 - 15 Years | +22% | 121,000 CAD |
| 15 - 20 Years | +6% | 128,000 CAD |
| 20+ Years | +9% | 139,000 CAD |
Typical Salary Progress for Most Careers
Laboratory Technician Salary Comparison By Education
How do education levels affect salaries?
Displayed below is the average salary difference between different Laboratory Technician(s) who have the same experience but different education levels.
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down Laboratory Technician salaries by education level in order to make a comparison.
When the education level is Bachelor's Degree, the average salary of a Laboratory Technician is 69,800 CAD per year.
While someone with a Master's Degree gets a salary of 128,000 CAD per year, 83% more than someone having a Bachelor's Degree degree.
Laboratory Technician average salary difference by education level in Canada
| Bachelor's Degree | 69,800 CAD | |
| Master's Degree | +83% | 128,000 CAD |
Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Canada costs anywhere from 49,800 Canadian Dollar(s) to 149,000 Canadian Dollar(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support the thoery. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
If you can afford the costs of higher education, the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Typical Salary Difference by Education for Most Careers
Laboratory Technician Salary Comparison By Gender
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male Laboratory Technician employees in Canada earn 5% more than their female counterparts on average.
| Male | 95,700 CAD | |
| Female | -5% | 91,200 CAD |
Salary Comparison By Gender in Canada for all Careers
Laboratory Technician Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Canada
How much are annual salary increments in Canada for Laboratory Technician(s)? How often do employees get salary raises?
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician(s) in Canada are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 10% every 15 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 9% granted to employees every 15 months.
Canada / All Professions
The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
How to calculate the salary increment percentage?
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
Annual Increment Rate By Industry 2019
| Banking | 2% | |
| Energy | 4% | |
| Information Technology | 6% | |
| Healthcare | 8% | |
| Travel | 1% | |
| Construction | 3% | |
| Education | 5% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Canada for the year 2019. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
Laboratory Technician Bonus and Incentive Rates in Canada
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
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A Laboratory Technician is considered to be a low bonus-based job due to the generally limited involvement in direct revenue generation, with exceptions of course. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
65% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 35% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 0% to 4% of their annual salary.
| Received Bonus | 35% | |
| No Bonus | 65% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based BonusesThe most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
Bonuses Are Not Commissions!
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
The main two types of jobs | |
| Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Laboratory Technician Average Hourly Wage in Canada
45 CAD per hourThe average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Canada is 45 CAD. This means that the average Laboratory Technician in Canada earns approximately 45 CAD for every worked hour.
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
Laboratory Technician VS Other Jobs
The average salary for Laboratory Technician is 37% less than that of Healthcare Technical. Also, Healthcare Technical salaries are 17% less than those of Health and Medical.
Salary comparison with similar jobs
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Academic Clinician | 231,000 CAD |  +150% |
| Admitting Officer | 92,600 CAD |  -1% |
| Ambulance Dispatcher | 95,000 CAD | +2% |
| Ambulance Driver | 82,000 CAD | -12% |
| Ambulance Officer and Paramedic | 95,800 CAD | +3% |
| Ambulatory Services Director | 184,000 CAD | +97% |
| Anatomic Pathology Supervisor | 215,000 CAD | +130% |
| Anesthesia Technician | 124,000 CAD | +33% |
| Anesthesiologist | 371,000 CAD | +300% |
| Anesthesiology Assistant | 130,000 CAD | +39% |
| Assistant Optometrist | 103,000 CAD | +10% |
| Audiologist | 216,000 CAD | +130% |
| Biomedical Engineering Director | 165,000 CAD | +77% |
| Biomedical Engineering Technician | 90,000 CAD | -4% |
| Cardiac Technician | 81,700 CAD | -13% |
| Cardiovascular Specialist | 457,000 CAD | +390% |
| Cardiovascular Technologist | 180,000 CAD | +93% |
| Central Sterile Processing Technician | 105,000 CAD | +12% |
| Charge Entry Specialist | 111,000 CAD | +19% |
| Clinical Application Specialist | 114,000 CAD | +22% |
| Clinical Biochemist | 208,000 CAD | +120% |
| Clinical Cytogeneticist | 184,000 CAD | +97% |
| Clinical Data Reviewer | 107,000 CAD | +15% |
| Clinical Development Specialist | 139,000 CAD | +49% |
| Clinical Field Associate | 115,000 CAD | +23% |
| Clinical Genetic Technologist | 172,000 CAD | +84% |
| Clinical Microbiologist | 228,000 CAD | +140% |
| Clinical Molecular Geneticist | 197,000 CAD | +110% |
| Clinical Neuropsychologist | 252,000 CAD | +170% |
| Clinical Research Coordinator | 128,000 CAD | +37% |
| Clinical Scientist | 227,000 CAD | +140% |
| CME Specialist | 193,000 CAD | +110% |
| CT Technologist | 108,000 CAD | +16% |
| Cytogenetic Technologist | 167,000 CAD | +79% |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | 139,000 CAD | +49% |
| Dispensing Optician | 107,000 CAD | +15% |
| Dosimetrist | 153,000 CAD | +64% |
| EKG Technician | 111,000 CAD | +19% |
| Endoscopic Assistant | 102,000 CAD | +9% |
| Endoscopy Technician | 97,000 CAD | +4% |
| Enterostomal Therapist | 162,000 CAD | +73% |
| Epidemiologist | 188,000 CAD | +100% |
| FGP Ultrasound Techncian | 99,700 CAD | +7% |
| Health Systems Specialist | 147,000 CAD | +57% |
| Health Technologist | 155,000 CAD | +66% |
| Healthcare Data Analyst | 118,000 CAD | +26% |
| Hearing Aid Specialist | 127,000 CAD | +36% |
| Histotechnologist | 151,000 CAD | +62% |
| Immunologist | 215,000 CAD | +130% |
| Industrial Hygienist | 157,000 CAD | +68% |
| Infection Control Coordinator | 107,000 CAD | +15% |
| Infection Control Practitioner | 254,000 CAD | +170% |
| Infection Preventionist | 171,000 CAD | +83% |
| Informatics Practice Specialist | 131,000 CAD | +40% |
| Interventional Radiographer | 198,000 CAD | +110% |
| Lab Assistant | 88,400 CAD | -5% |
| Laboratory Manager | 171,000 CAD | +83% |
| Laboratory Technician | 93,400 CAD | -0% |
| Low Vision Therapist | 197,000 CAD | +110% |
| Mammography Technician | 92,800 CAD | -1% |
| Medical Coder | 85,100 CAD | -9% |
| Medical Courier | 62,600 CAD | -33% |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | 90,500 CAD | -3% |
| Medical Forms Designer | 78,100 CAD | -16% |
| Medical Technologist | 98,700 CAD | +6% |
| MRI Technologist | 90,000 CAD | -4% |
| Music Therapist | 137,000 CAD | +47% |
| Neonatologist | 246,000 CAD | +160% |
| Neurodiagnostic Techncian | 95,400 CAD | +2% |
| Neuropsychology Testing Assistant | 86,200 CAD | -8% |
| Nuclear Medical Technician | 130,000 CAD | +39% |
| Nuclear Medicine Technolgoist | 126,000 CAD | +35% |
| Nutrition Assistant | 92,500 CAD | -1% |
| Occupaitional Therapy Assistant | 103,000 CAD | +10% |
| Operating Room Scheduler | 89,400 CAD | -4% |
| Operating Room Services Director | 261,000 CAD | +180% |
| Ophthalmic Assistant | 98,700 CAD | +6% |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician | 103,000 CAD | +10% |
| Optician | 203,000 CAD | +120% |
| Orthopedic Technician | 101,000 CAD | +8% |
| Orthoptist | 260,000 CAD | +180% |
| Orthotist | 270,000 CAD | +190% |
| Pathology Assistant | 98,500 CAD | +5% |
| Perfusionist | 297,000 CAD | +220% |
| Phlebotomist | 71,700 CAD | -23% |
| Pre Authorization Case Manager | 131,000 CAD | +40% |
| Prosthetist | 219,000 CAD | +130% |
| Radiation Therapist | 323,000 CAD | +250% |
| Radiation Therapy Technologist | 139,000 CAD | +49% |
| Radiographer | 227,000 CAD | +140% |
| Radiography Technologist | 131,000 CAD | +40% |
| Radiologic Technologist | 137,000 CAD | +47% |
| Radiology Technologist | 129,000 CAD | +38% |
| Respiratory Care Practitioner | 243,000 CAD | +160% |
| Respiratory Therapist | 188,000 CAD | +100% |
| Respiratory Therapy Technician | 111,000 CAD | +19% |
| Sonographer | 132,000 CAD | +41% |
| Sonography Technologist | 139,000 CAD | +49% |
| Speech and Language Pathologist | 206,000 CAD | +120% |
| Ultrasonographer | 106,000 CAD | +13% |
| Ultrasound Technologist | 98,900 CAD | +6% |
| Vascular Technologist | 96,600 CAD | +3% |
| X-Ray Technologist | 141,000 CAD | +51% |
Salary Comparison By City
| City | Average Salary |
| Brampton | 86,600 CAD |
| Calgary | 93,800 CAD |
| Edmonton | 90,600 CAD |
| Gatineau | 83,500 CAD |
| Halifax | 86,900 CAD |
| Hamilton | 89,600 CAD |
| Kitchener | 91,900 CAD |
| Markham | 88,500 CAD |
| Mississauga | 94,500 CAD |
| Montreal | 95,200 CAD |
| Ottawa | 97,700 CAD |
| Quebec | 96,000 CAD |
| Regina | 82,400 CAD |
| Richmond | 77,900 CAD |
| Saskatoon | 85,300 CAD |
| Surrey | 90,000 CAD |
| Toronto | 94,800 CAD |
| Vancouver | 101,000 CAD |
| Vaughan | 84,600 CAD |
| Windsor | 81,700 CAD |
| Winnipeg | 92,500 CAD |
Salary Comparison By State
| State | Average Salary |
| Alberta | 101,000 CAD |
| British Columbia | 94,800 CAD |
| Manitoba | 91,900 CAD |
| New Brunswick | 86,100 CAD |
| Newfoundland-Labrador | 82,300 CAD |
| Northwest Territories | 89,000 CAD |
| Nova Scotia | 90,400 CAD |
| Nunavut | 97,500 CAD |
| Ontario | 102,000 CAD |
| Prince Edward Island | 77,100 CAD |
| Quebec | 95,800 CAD |
| Saskatchewan | 90,500 CAD |
| Yukon | 81,200 CAD |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Canada earn 4% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
| Private Sector | 117,000 CAD | |
| Public Sector | +4% | 122,000 CAD |
