STEM OPT Laboratory Technician Jobs

Laboratory Technician roles in clinical, environmental, and research settings qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension when your degree falls under an eligible CIP code. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you'll need an approved I-983 training plan before your extension start date.

Find STEM OPT Laboratory Technician Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs120+
Work Type98% On-site
Top LocationAtlanta, GA
Most JobsLam Research

Showing 5 of 120+ Laboratory Technician jobs

UL Solutions
Laboratory Support Technician
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UL Solutions
New 6h ago
Laboratory Support Technician
UL Solutions
Brea, California
Specialized Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Manufacturing Operations
Engineering (Non-Software)
$65k - $86k/yr
On-Site
Associate's
10,000+

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Saicon
Laboratory Technician
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Saicon
New 10h ago
Laboratory Technician
Saicon
Austin, Texas
Specialized Engineering
Manufacturing Operations
Quality Control
Engineering (Non-Software)
On-Site
Associate's

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The University of Michigan
Research Laboratory Specialist Associate
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The University of Michigan
New 12h ago
Research Laboratory Specialist Associate
The University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Clinical Trials
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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AbbVie
Laboratory Technician III
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AbbVie
Added 1d ago
Laboratory Technician III
AbbVie
Waco, Texas
Laboratory Research
Quality Control
Healthcare Administration
$23 - $43/hr
On-Site
Associate's
10,000+

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Sanofi
Laboratory Coordinator II
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Sanofi
Added 1d ago
Laboratory Coordinator II
Sanofi
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Laboratory Research
Project & Program Management
Procurement & Supply Chain
Compliance & Legal
Procurement & Purchasing
Compliance & Risk
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Tips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Laboratory Technician

Confirm your CIP code covers lab work

Check that your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code maps to an eligible STEM field. Biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and clinical laboratory science codes qualify. Your DSO can verify this before you apply for the extension.

Verify E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers

Ask your hiring manager or HR contact to confirm E-Verify participation during the offer stage, not after. Employers can look up their own company ID in the E-Verify system, and you can request written confirmation before signing.

Target labs inside E-Verify-registered institutions

Hospital systems, accredited reference labs, and federally funded research centers are typically required to maintain E-Verify enrollment. Targeting these settings narrows your search to employers who already meet the STEM OPT employer requirement.

Build your I-983 training plan around specific lab competencies

Your training plan must list concrete learning objectives tied to your STEM degree, not just your job duties. Include techniques like PCR, ELISA, or mass spectrometry analysis that directly connect to your academic coursework and demonstrate degree-to-role alignment.

Search Migrate Mate for labs with active STEM OPT history

Filter by Laboratory Technician roles on Migrate Mate to find employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and a track record of hiring OPT students. This cuts out the guesswork of cold-applying to labs that have never sponsored STEM OPT workers.

Request offer letters that specify your exact start date

Your STEM OPT application to USCIS requires a firm employment start date on the I-765. If your offer letter uses vague language like 'contingent on clearance,' ask HR to issue an updated letter with a confirmed date before your DSO recommends the extension.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Laboratory Technician role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?

Yes, if your underlying degree is in an eligible STEM field such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or clinical laboratory science and the role directly applies that training. The job title alone doesn't determine eligibility. USCIS evaluates whether the position is commensurate with your degree, so your I-983 training plan must draw a clear line between your coursework and your lab duties.

How do I confirm my employer is enrolled in E-Verify?

Ask HR directly and request written confirmation of the company's E-Verify employer ID. Employers enrolled in E-Verify can provide this from their E-Verify account. Without confirmed enrollment, your DSO cannot recommend the STEM OPT extension and USCIS will not approve your I-765. Verify this before you sign an offer, not after. You can find STEM OPT-ready employers with E-Verify enrollment on Migrate Mate.

What goes into the I-983 training plan for a lab technician position?

Your I-983 must list specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree, not just a job description. For laboratory technician roles, include techniques you'll develop, such as sample preparation, instrument calibration, or data analysis methods, and explain how each connects to your academic training. Both you and your supervisor sign the plan, and your DSO reviews it before submitting your extension application to USCIS.

Can I work as a laboratory technician during the cap-gap period?

Yes, if your employer files an H-1B visa petition on your behalf before your OPT EAD expires and USCIS receives it by the cap filing deadline, cap-gap extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. You can continue in your laboratory technician role during this period without interruption, provided your employer maintains E-Verify enrollment and your status remains otherwise valid.

What STEM degree fields support a Laboratory Technician STEM OPT extension?

Degrees in biological sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, clinical laboratory science, environmental science, and related STEM fields typically support a laboratory technician extension. The relevant CIP codes are published by the Department of Homeland Security. Your DSO has access to the full eligible CIP code list and can confirm whether your specific degree program qualifies before you begin the extension application process.