School Laboratory Technician

A School Laboratory Technician prepares, maintains, and manages science laboratory facilities and equipment in secondary schools. They support science teaching by setting up experiments, ordering consumables and equipment, ensuring safety compliance with Work Health and Safety legislation, and training students in safe laboratory practices. The role combines technical knowledge of biology, chemistry, and physics with practical facility management.

Prepare laboratory benches, apparatus, and specimens for science lessons in accordance with the planned curriculum and teacher requirements. Sterilise glassware and equipment using autoclaves and chemical disinfectants to prevent contamination. Maintain stock records and order consumable materials (reagents, slides, culture media, safety equipment) within budget constraints. Calibrate and perform preventive maintenance on laboratory instruments including microscopes, balances, pH meters, and spectrophotometers. Dispose of chemical and biological waste according to Australian environmental protection regulations and school safety protocols. Conduct risk assessments of laboratory activities and maintain Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all hazardous chemicals on site. Train and supervise students in correct use of Bunsen burners, electrical equipment, and personal protective equipment during practical classes. Respond to laboratory spills and chemical incidents by containing, cleaning, and documenting the event in accordance with school incident procedures.

The standard entry pathway requires a diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree (ABS skill level 2). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

The work is repetitive (sterilising glassware, restocking chemicals) and you're always cleaning up after others. You also carry genuine liability: one missed safety procedure or chemical spill could cause serious student injury, and you're the one who has to manage that aftermath.

These roles are concentrated in secondary schools across all Australian states, so availability follows school distribution: more jobs in metro areas where student numbers are higher. Regional and remote schools often can't afford dedicated technicians and combine the role with other duties. Practically speaking, you'll have the most options in larger school networks and science-focused private schools in major cities.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 3114, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Attention to Detailcore
• Cartographycore
• Health Terminology Literacycore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Inventory Trackingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Record Managementcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Calibrate laboratory equipment
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Data Entry and Accuracy
• Digital Literacy
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
• Process Documentation
• Quality Assurance and Checking
• Workload Self-Management

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026