Laboratory Manager Jobs in Illinois

Laboratory Manager jobs in Illinois are in active demand, concentrated in clinical diagnostics, pharmaceutical manufacturing, food and beverage testing, and academic research, with openings for candidates at every level from bench-level supervisors to senior operations leads. Chicago, Deerfield, and Peoria account for the largest share of postings, anchored by established employers such as Abbott Laboratories, Baxter International, and the University of Illinois Health system. The most sought-after specialties include clinical laboratory management, quality control oversight, and regulatory compliance in FDA-regulated environments. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles10
Top employerMercyhealth
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring7
Work type100% Hybrid
Top industryBiotechnology

Showing 5 of 10+ Laboratory Manager jobs

Fastenal
Laboratory Assistant Manager
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Fastenal
Added 3d ago
Laboratory Assistant Manager
Fastenal
Loves Park, Illinois
Content & Communications
Creative & Design
Marketing
$55k - $70k/yr
Associate's degree
10,000+

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AbbVie
Laboratory Manager, Product Development QA
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AbbVie
Added 4d ago
Laboratory Manager, Product Development QA
AbbVie
North Chicago, Illinois
Business Operations
Project Management
Technical Program Management
$110k - $209k/yr
Hybrid
Master's degree
10,000+

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Endeavor Health
Laboratory Manager -Microbiology, Molecular and Pathology
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Endeavor Health
Added 5d ago
Laboratory Manager -Microbiology, Molecular and Pathology
Endeavor Health
Elmhurst, Illinois
Business Strategy
Product Management
Project Management
$46.79 - $72.52/hr
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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Mercyhealth
Manager of Laboratory
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Mercyhealth
Added 1w ago
Manager of Laboratory
Mercyhealth
Freeport, Illinois
Compliance & Risk
Cybersecurity
Security & Protective Services
$86k.1 - $137k.36/yr
Bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Science
5,001-10,000

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Rush University Medical Center
Mgr Perioperative Svcs RN Electrophysiology Laboratory
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Rush University Medical Center
Added 1w ago
Mgr Perioperative Svcs RN Electrophysiology Laboratory
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois
Data Analytics
Data Science
$55.88 - $100.03/hr
Managed Registered Nurses (RNs)

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See All 10 Laboratory Manager Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Laboratory Manager Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Chicago
4 jobs
Elmhurst
1 job
Freeport
1 job
Loves Park
1 job
Orland Park
1 job
Crystal Lake
1 job
North Chicago
1 job

Laboratory Manager Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Mercyhealth
Mercyhealth2 open roles
UChicago Medicine
UChicago Medicine2 open roles
AbbVie
AbbVie1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
  • Consulting & Professional Services

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in laboratory manager jobs across Illinois.

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in a life science, chemistry, or related field required
  • ASCP or AMT board certification strongly preferred by Illinois clinical employers
  • Minimum three to five years of laboratory operations or supervisory experience
  • Demonstrated knowledge of CAP, CLIA, and Illinois Department of Public Health laboratory standards
  • Experience managing staff scheduling, budgets, and laboratory quality management systems
  • Proficiency with laboratory information systems and instrument troubleshooting in regulated environments

Laboratory Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a laboratory manager in Illinois?

Most laboratory managers in Illinois hold a bachelor's or master's degree in a biological science, chemistry, or clinical laboratory science. For clinical roles, employers expect board certification through ASCP or AMT and compliance with Illinois Department of Public Health licensing standards for CLIA-regulated laboratories. Candidates typically build toward management by leading a laboratory team or quality function for several years before stepping into a department director or manager role.

How much do laboratory managers make in Illinois?

Laboratory managers in Illinois earn a median of about $159,670 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $85,210 for the lowest 10% to over $281,660 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire laboratory managers in Illinois?

Employers hiring laboratory managers in Illinois right now include Mercyhealth, UChicago Medicine, and AbbVie, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's concentration of major pharmaceutical, hospital, and food-safety testing operations means hiring activity is relatively consistent across both the Chicago metropolitan area and downstate facilities.

Which Illinois cities have the most laboratory manager jobs?

Chicago, Elmhurst, and Freeport have the most laboratory manager openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the largest share through its dense network of hospital systems, university medical centers, and life sciences companies headquartered in the metro, while suburban hubs like Deerfield and North Chicago add volume from large pharmaceutical campuses that operate multiple on-site laboratories.

Are there remote laboratory manager jobs in Illinois?

Yes, but they're rare. Laboratory manager roles are fundamentally hands-on, requiring physical oversight of staff, instruments, and samples, so most positions require full on-site presence. About 100% of laboratory manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those tend to cover administrative or regulatory compliance functions rather than day-to-day bench operations.

How can I get hired as a laboratory manager in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic path is moving into a lead technologist or senior scientist role first and demonstrating supervisory responsibility before applying to manager positions. Large Illinois health systems such as Northwestern Medicine and Rush University Medical Center hire laboratory supervisors and team leads who have strong bench credentials but limited formal management experience. Earning ASCP certification and completing a laboratory management course through the Illinois Society for Clinical Laboratory Science strengthens a candidacy considerably.

Where can I find and apply to laboratory manager jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to laboratory manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated regularly. Find roles that match your specialty and experience level and apply directly to the employers posting them.

See All 10 Laboratory Manager Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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