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Toxicology Technician · 2026 salary + AI outlook

Toxicology Technician salary — and how to earn like the top 1%

$42,000median / year · about $20 an hour (BLS)

Automated sample prep, LC-MS/MS analyzers, and LIMS now handle routine screening; technicians who master instrument troubleshooting, method validation, and confirmation testing hold the higher pay.

Entry level
$28,000
Top earners
$62,000
Job growth
+5%
AI exposure
Medium
🏆 The Top 1% Playbook

How to reach the top 1% of Toxicology Technicians

Four moves, straight from how the highest-paid in this field use AI in 2026:

1
Master LC-MS/MS Become the technician who runs, tunes, and troubleshoots LC-MS/MS and GC-MS from SCIEX, Agilent, or Waters; instrument experts keep the lab producing when the automation breaks and out-earn sample-prep staff.
2
Own method validation Learn method development and validation to CLIA and ISO 17025 standards; technicians who validate new assays and confirmation methods, rather than only running them, move toward analyst and lab-lead roles.
3
Specialize in forensic tox Move into forensic or postmortem toxicology and join SOFT; confirmation testing that holds up under cross-examination in court is skilled, defensible work automated screeners can't replace, and it pays accordingly.
4
Step up to analyst Certify through ASCP or a forensic pathway and target certifying-analyst or lab-supervisor roles; signing out results and overseeing QA and QC is the seat automation makes more important, not less.
💡 The move that pays: The analyzer flags a positive; a court still needs a person to swear the number is right.
HomeJob Salaries › Toxicology Technician Salary

Toxicology Technician Salary in 2026

Toxicology Technician pay, in real terms

Per hour
$20.19
Per week
$808
Every 2 weeks
$1,615
Per month
$3,500

At the national median of $42,000/year, a toxicology technician earns $3,500/month before taxes. Over a 30-year career that's roughly $1,260,000 in gross earnings — and that's before raises, promotions, or bonuses.

That puts this role about 13% below the U.S. median wage for all workers (about $48,060/year, per BLS). Using the common rule of keeping housing under 30% of gross pay, this salary supports about $1,050/month in rent or mortgage.

Figures are gross (pre-tax) estimates from the national median; use the take-home and hourly calculators on PayCrunch for your exact state and situation.

Updated June 2026 · BLS Data
How much does a Toxicology Technician make?
$42,000per year
National median salary · $20.19/hour · $3,500/month
Hourly
$20.19
Monthly
$3,500
Weekly
$808
Daily
$162
Estimated take-home
$31,920/yr
Adjust Your Market Position
$42,000/yr
Entry Level · $28,000 Top Earner · $62,000
IRS.gov data
BLS.gov verified
All 50 states
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What Does a Toxicology Technician Do?

Toxicology technicians assist toxicologists by preparing samples, running tests, and maintaining laboratory equipment.

Toxicology Technician Salary by State

Select your state to see the adjusted toxicology technician salary based on cost-of-living differences.

Select a state above

How to Become a Toxicology Technician

Education: Associate's degree in Science

Certifications: None required; ASCP valued

Career path: Lab Aide → Toxicology Technician → Senior Tech → Lab Supervisor

Toxicology Technician Salary by Experience

Entry level
$28,000
Mid-career
$42,000
Senior
$56,420

Estimates based on BLS percentile data and industry surveys. Actual salaries vary by employer, location, and individual qualifications.

Top 10 Highest-Paying States for Toxicology Technicians

#StateAnnualMonthlyHourly
1Hawaii$49,560$4,130$23.83
2California$48,300$4,025$23.22
3New York$48,300$4,025$23.22
4Massachusetts$47,040$3,920$22.62
5New Jersey$47,040$3,920$22.62
6Connecticut$46,200$3,850$22.21
7Washington$46,200$3,850$22.21
8Maryland$45,360$3,780$21.81
9Alaska$44,100$3,675$21.20
10Colorado$44,100$3,675$21.20

State salaries estimated using BLS national median adjusted by regional cost-of-living factors.

Compare to Related Jobs

Job TitleMedian SalaryHourlyDifference
Toxicology Technician$42,000$20.19
Composting Specialist$42,000$20.19
Habitat Restoration Specialist$48,000$23.08+$6,000
Exercise Physiologist$52,000$25.00+$10,000
Fish Hatchery Manager$52,000$25.00+$10,000
Animal Behaviorist$55,000$26.44+$13,000
Environmental Health Specialist$58,000$27.88+$16,000

Job Outlook

The BLS projects +5% growth for toxicology technicians through 2032, which is faster than average compared to the average for all occupations (3%).

🆕 New & Trending AI Tools for Toxicology TechnicianReviewed July 2026

We track new AI-tool launches every week and refresh this list — here’s what’s gaining traction for Toxicology Technician work right now.

Julius AINEWFree / $20 mo

AI data analyst that runs statistics and charts from plain-language prompts.

How a Toxicology Technician uses it: analyze datasets and generate figures without writing code

NotebookLMNEWFree / $7.99 mo

Google tool that answers questions grounded only in the documents you give it — with citations.

How a Toxicology Technician uses it: load your own manuals, policies, or PDFs and ask questions that stay accurate to the source

ElicitFree / $12 mo

AI research assistant that finds and summarizes papers.

How a Toxicology Technician uses it: run a literature review and extract findings across dozens of papers fast

ConsensusFree / $9 mo

AI search that answers questions from peer-reviewed research.

How a Toxicology Technician uses it: get evidence-backed answers with the studies behind them

SciSpaceFree / paid

AI that explains papers and helps with literature review.

How a Toxicology Technician uses it: decode dense papers and trace citations quickly

SciteFree / $20 mo

Shows whether other studies support or contradict a paper's claims (Smart Citations).

How a Toxicology Technician uses it: check if a finding is actually backed by the wider literature before you cite it

ChatGPTFree / $20 mo

The most-used AI assistant — writing, analysis, research, and images from a plain-language chat.

How a Toxicology Technician uses it: draft emails and documents, summarize long files, and get instant answers to on-the-job questions

ClaudeFree / $20 mo

AI assistant known for careful writing, long-document analysis, and coding.

How a Toxicology Technician uses it: analyze big reports or spreadsheets and turn messy notes into clean, finished writing

Google GeminiFree / $20 mo

Google's AI assistant, built into Gmail, Docs, and Search.

How a Toxicology Technician uses it: draft and reply inside Google Workspace and research without leaving the page

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a toxicology technician make?
The national median salary for a toxicology technician is $42,000 per year, or $20.19 per hour. Entry-level positions start around $28,000 while top earners make $62,000 or more.
What education do you need to become a toxicology technician?
Most toxicology technician positions require associate's degree in science. Additional certifications or experience may increase earning potential.
What is the job outlook for toxicology technicians?
Employment of toxicology technicians is projected to grow 5% over the next decade, which is about average compared to the average for all occupations.
What are the highest paying states for toxicology technicians?
The highest paying states include Hawaii, California, New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, where cost of living adjustments push salaries above the national median.
Can you make six figures as a toxicology technician?
While the median salary is below six figures, top earners in high-paying states and with significant experience can approach or exceed $100,000.
Methodology and data sources

Salary data is based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) program. National median, 10th percentile, and 90th percentile figures are sourced from the most recent BLS OES release. State-level salary estimates are calculated by applying regional price parity adjustments from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to the national median. Job growth projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program. Education and certification requirements are based on BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook descriptions. All figures are approximate and updated periodically.

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