The Skills Lab Tech Employers Want Most in 2025

Insights into the top-paying technical and soft skills for research positions.

January 11th, 2025


For students and recent graduates in life sciences, landing your first job as a Laboratory Technician, Research Assistant, or Research Associate is a common and rewarding path. But with thousands of job postings available, how can you ensure you’re staying competitive for the best opportunities and salaries?


To answer this, we analyzed 1,000+ job postings from the last three months to identify the skills associated with higher pay currently sought by employers. We took the median salary for all jobs that included a given skill and sorted them into "technical" and "soft" skills. Here are the top 15 for each that we uncovered:


Technical Skill Median Salary Soft Skill Median Salary
Flow Cytometry $83,920 Creativity $105,300
Python $83,250 Adaptability $82,920
Cell Culture $82,500 Multitasking $81,000
Data Analysis $72,616 Problem-Solving $77,750
Report Writing $69,680 Flexibility $70,000
R (Programming Language) $68,640 Collaboration $67,600
Data Management $66,560 Organizational Skills $66,560
Excel $66,560 Independence $66,560
Quantitative Analysis $66,560 Organization $63,171
Documentation $63,187 Teamwork $61,027
Molecular Biology $62,590 Training $61,027
Laboratory Equipment Operation $60,978 Communication $59,779
Statistical Analysis $59,250 Problem Solving (Specific) $59,779
Project Management $57,855 Initiative $59,773
Laboratory Information System $55,608 Interpersonal Skills $58,250

Advice for Job Seekers

Whether you're still in school or actively seeking a job, here are actionable tips to help you stand out and secure better-paying opportunities:

  1. Focus on Hands-On Experience for High-Demand Skills: Skills like flow cytometry, cell culture, and laboratory equipment operation are harder to learn independently. Look for coursework, internships, or research opportunities that allow you to gain hands-on experience with these techniques while in school.
  2. Leverage Online Resources for Digital Skills: Technical skills like Python, R, Excel, and data analysis can often be self-taught or learned through affordable online courses. Platforms like Coursera and LinkedIn Learning are great resources.
  3. Highlight Soft Skills in Resumes and Interviews: Employers value creativity, adaptability, and problem-solving. Reflect on how you've demonstrated these qualities in internships or projects and communicate them effectively during hiring.
  4. Showcase Data-Driven Expertise: Many entry-level lab roles require data collection and analysis skills. Highlight your familiarity with tools like Excel, R, or Python prominently.