Senior Laboratory Assistant

Senior Laboratory Assistant
SENIOR LABORATORY ASSISTANT

$3,922.00 - $4,908.00 per Month

Final Filing Date: 9/20/2026

Come join our team at the Central Valley Coded-Wire Tag (CWT) Laboratory and Central Valley Tissue Archive! If you’re driven by science, conservation, and the chance to make a real impact on California’s iconic salmon populations, this job puts you at the heart of it. In this role, you’ll lead hands‑on biological sampling at Central Valley hatcheries, guiding Scientific Aids as you collect tissue, scale, otoliths, and coded‑wire‑tag data essential to understanding, conserving and managing Chinook Salmon fisheries.

Your days will take you from hatchery decks to the lab bench, ensuring samples are collected with precision, processed for long‑term research value, and shared with genetic and life‑history studies across the state. You’ll maintain chain‑of‑custody documentation, perform detailed scale analyses, and serve as a technical mentor in coded‑wire tag extraction and reading—helping ensure California’s fisheries science remains robust and accurate.

Back at the lab and office, you’ll keep operations running smoothly by managing data entry and quality control across multiple databases, maintaining supplies for both field and laboratory teams, and preparing sample kits for crews working throughout the Central Valley. You’ll also help train, and lead seasonal staff supporting the Central Valley CWT Lab, contributing to a collaborative and mission‑driven work environment.

The role blends lab work with feild work at the hatcheries and salvage facilities, and requires comfort working long hours outdoors, extended microscope and computer time, and frequent travel in state vehicles to hatcheries and fish salvage facilities. A valid California driver’s license is required. If you’re ready to support meaningful fisheries research and enjoy work that’s as varied as it is important, this is your chance to dive in.

Link to Class Title Exam:
Senior Laboratory Assistant / Exam Bulletin

Personal Leave Program:
Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary salary reductions ranging from 2% to 4.62% in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) hours. Please note that the salary ranges listed in this Job Control may not reflect these reductions associated with the 2025 Personal Leave Program.

Please follow the link for more information regarding the 2025 Personal Leave program:
Personal Leave Program
- Human Resources
- CalHR .

This position may be eligible for a telework opportunity in accordance with departmental policies and operational needs. Beginning July 1, 2026, employees will be required to work in‑person at least four (4) days per week in alignment with Executive Order N-22-25. Additional in‑office days may be required based on operational needs.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .

- Work long hours in the field (typically in a hatchery setting)

- Drive several hours to sample collection sites (typically on paved roads)

- Work outside in all weather conditions

- Work several hours in a lab setting (both standing and sitting)

- Work several hours looking through a microscope

- Work several hours on a computer

- Willingness to work irregular hours and flexible schedules

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• SENIOR LABORATORY ASSISTANT

SENIOR LABORATORY ASSISTANT $3,922.00 - $4,908.00 New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions:

3

Telework:

In Office

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