Prepares and runs samples in a lab that tests for drugs, poisons, or chemical effects.
Processes urine samples for drug screening, loads them onto analyzers, and flags results for the toxicologist.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Associate's degree (2-year), about 2 years after high school. Associate or bachelor's in chemistry or biology.
Ways in: 2-year college, 4-year college. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Chemistry, Biology.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). Estimate.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. Automated analyzers and AI review handle routine drug screens; fewer techs, mostly loading and checking machines.
Classes: Chemistry, Biology, Algebra II.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-4021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.