Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,910 | $18.71 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $62,930 | $30.26 |
| Mean (average) | $67,350 | $32.38 |
| 90th percentile | $100,990 | $48.55 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $49,440 | $34,790 | $79,520 | 7,250 | 1.6 |
| Alaska | $60,950 | $44,550 | $109,080 | 680 | 0.97 |
| Arizona | $62,530 | $40,520 | $99,560 | 6,440 | 0.93 |
| Arkansas | $49,670 | $35,580 | $79,420 | 3,180 | 1.14 |
| California | $76,010 | $47,580 | $126,870 | 29,210 | 0.75 |
| Colorado | $70,050 | $47,050 | $102,900 | 5,000 | 0.81 |
| Connecticut | $65,310 | $43,320 | $111,940 | 3,670 | 1.01 |
| Delaware | $68,630 | $46,650 | $98,420 | 690 | 0.67 |
| District of Columbia | $76,560 | $47,470 | $126,300 | 960 | 0.64 |
| Florida | $60,510 | $37,530 | $96,860 | 25,790 | 1.21 |
| Georgia | $62,180 | $37,970 | $101,020 | 11,540 | 1.1 |
| Guam | $45,130 | $28,920 | $59,770 | 90 | 0.63 |
| Hawaii | $66,020 | $48,070 | $100,340 | 1,090 | 0.81 |
| Idaho | $47,450 | $38,130 | $92,280 | 1,590 | 0.87 |
| Illinois | $71,950 | $44,980 | $99,970 | 10,330 | 0.79 |
| Indiana | $57,080 | $38,910 | $87,470 | 7,210 | 1.05 |
| Iowa | $54,260 | $38,790 | $79,660 | 3,240 | 0.97 |
| Kansas | $62,050 | $38,490 | $94,780 | 3,930 | 1.28 |
| Kentucky | $60,880 | $37,800 | $88,750 | 4,860 | 1.13 |
| Louisiana | $54,460 | $33,140 | $84,720 | 3,790 | 0.91 |
| Maine | $68,690 | $46,280 | $94,320 | 1,250 | 0.91 |
| Maryland | $63,690 | $34,760 | $98,260 | 6,200 | 1.05 |
| Massachusetts | $79,120 | $47,360 | $105,750 | 10,850 | 1.39 |
| Michigan | $61,260 | $37,560 | $91,280 | 10,000 | 1.06 |
| Minnesota | $74,440 | $49,810 | $101,190 | 7,190 | 1.14 |
| Mississippi | $50,640 | $33,760 | $81,200 | 3,070 | 1.23 |
| Missouri | $60,300 | $37,490 | $91,540 | 7,670 | 1.22 |
| Montana | $65,190 | $38,910 | $97,070 | 1,020 | 0.93 |
| Nebraska | $60,540 | $38,090 | $85,610 | 1,930 | 0.88 |
| Nevada | $57,320 | $40,390 | $103,890 | 2,040 | 0.61 |
| New Hampshire | $81,020 | $42,090 | $99,930 | 800 | 0.54 |
| New Jersey | $68,450 | $46,530 | $107,470 | 7,000 | 0.76 |
| New Mexico | $47,360 | $36,770 | $80,990 | 2,160 | 1.16 |
| New York | $97,280 | $50,060 | $132,530 | 16,460 | 0.79 |
| North Carolina | $60,650 | $39,860 | $86,490 | 13,710 | 1.3 |
| North Dakota | $62,680 | $37,300 | $83,920 | 1,370 | 1.49 |
| Ohio | $63,800 | $39,250 | $95,100 | 13,050 | 1.1 |
| Oklahoma | $53,300 | $35,780 | $83,970 | 4,250 | 1.16 |
| Oregon | $83,010 | $49,260 | $117,640 | 2,660 | 0.63 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,680 | $37,630 | $86,390 | 13,020 | 1 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,790 | $23,520 | $53,620 | 3,390 | 1.69 |
| Rhode Island | $75,780 | $41,850 | $102,650 | 1,060 | 0.98 |
| South Carolina | $55,280 | $36,420 | $81,930 | 4,380 | 0.89 |
| South Dakota | $60,890 | $37,550 | $81,560 | 1,280 | 1.31 |
| Tennessee | $62,070 | $37,800 | $87,210 | 8,410 | 1.2 |
| Texas | $59,290 | $38,330 | $94,830 | 29,530 | 0.98 |
| Utah | $49,090 | $38,220 | $86,080 | 6,370 | 1.71 |
| Vermont | $78,680 | $56,460 | $101,120 | 460 | 0.71 |
| Virgin Islands | $48,650 | $40,890 | $83,490 | 80 | 1.1 |
| Virginia | $61,050 | $38,910 | $96,080 | 7,150 | 0.81 |
| Washington | $72,760 | $46,780 | $112,020 | 7,430 | 0.98 |
| West Virginia | $61,810 | $37,240 | $88,470 | 1,800 | 1.2 |
| Wisconsin | $60,670 | $46,350 | $84,980 | 8,480 | 1.35 |
| Wyoming | $65,510 | $34,270 | $99,440 | 450 | 0.75 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 20,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.7%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Data unavailable No academic program is mapped to this occupation in the official crosswalk. Entry is usually through work experience, training, or apprenticeship.
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
BLS groups this occupation differently from O*NET. Skills and tasks below come from the closest O*NET occupation, Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists (29-2011.00).
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Analyze samples of biological material for chemical content or reaction.
- Analyze laboratory findings to check the accuracy of the results.
- Conduct chemical analysis of body fluids, including blood, urine, or spinal fluid, to determine presence of normal or abnormal components.
- Enter data from analysis of medical tests or clinical results into computer for storage.
- Collect and study blood samples to determine the number of cells, their morphology, or their blood group, blood type, or compatibility for transfusion purposes, using microscopic techniques.
- Set up, clean, and maintain laboratory equipment.
- Operate, calibrate, or maintain equipment used in quantitative or qualitative analysis, such as spectrophotometers, calorimeters, flame photometers, or computer-controlled analyzers.
- Establish or monitor quality assurance programs or activities to ensure the accuracy of laboratory results.
Technology skills
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Commercial plate reader software
- Database software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Email software
- FileMaker Pro
- Hematology laboratory workflow management software
- Laboratory information system LIS
- Medical digital imaging software
- Medical procedure coding software
Transferable skills for career changers: Quality Control Analysis, Operations Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, Operation and Control, Time Management, Instructing.
Common job titles: Clinical Chemist, Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS), Clinical Laboratory Technologist, Histologist Technologist, Lab Tech (Laboratory Technologist), Medical Lab Technologist (Medical Laboratory Technologist), Medical Technologist (MT), Microbiology Technologist (MT), MLS (Medical Laboratory Scientist), Technologist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do clinical laboratory technologists and technicians make?
The national median annual wage for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians was $62,930 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $38,910 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $100,990. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do clinical laboratory technologists and technicians need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is clinical laboratory technologists and technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians to change +2.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 20,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay clinical laboratory technologists and technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New York ($97,280), Oregon ($83,010), New Hampshire ($81,020). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.