2027 Salary Guide · Healthcare · Clinical laboratory
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians earned a median of $62,930 in May 2025, according to BLS, or about $67,000 in 2027 terms at current wage growth. BLS reports the two jobs together, and they are paid differently: technicians with an associate's degree cluster in the lower half of the range, and bachelor's-trained technologists in the upper half. New York pays the most by a wide margin, at $96,930.
Pay distribution
The 90th percentile, $100,990, is about 2.6 times the 10th, $38,910. That is a wide range for a single clinical occupation, and most of it reflects the education and test complexity that separate the two titles BLS combines.
Typical for the Lab Technician title: $47,650 to $81,450 (25th to 75th percentile of Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians)
| Percentile | BLS, May 2025 | 2027 planning estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,910 | $41,500 |
| 25th percentile | $47,650 | $50,500 |
| Median | $62,930 | $67,000 |
| 75th percentile | $81,450 | $86,500 |
| 90th percentile | $100,990 | $107,500 |
BLS reports clinical lab technologists and technicians as one group.
Title check
Job postings use lab tech, MLT, MLS, CLS and medical technologist loosely. BLS draws the line by test complexity and education.
Usually perform routine, more automated tests under the supervision of a technologist or lab manager. BLS says technicians typically complete an associate's degree in clinical laboratory science, or a certificate from the Armed Forces or a vocational school.
Perform more complex tests and laboratory procedures. BLS says technologists typically have a bachelor's degree in medical technology or a life science such as biology or chemistry.
BLS describes certification as a medical laboratory scientist or medical laboratory technician, which typically requires completing an accredited program, plus specialty certification in areas such as histology and clinical chemistry.
BLS says some states require lab personnel to be licensed or registered. Check the state health department or licensing board before hiring or relocating.
Career path
BLS does not report pay by level or title. These stages map common lab career steps onto the combined percentiles as a planning guide.
About $38,900 to $47,700 (10th to 25th percentile)
Associate's-trained MLTs and lab assistants running routine and automated tests. In hospital labs these roles often include nights, weekends or holidays.
About $47,700 to $81,500 (25th to 75th percentile)
Bachelor's-trained MLS staff performing complex testing, and senior technicians. Certification and experience across more of the lab's testing areas are the usual ways up this band.
About $81,500 to $101,000+ (75th to 90th percentile)
Specialty-certified technologists, shift leads and supervisors who oversee quality assurance and train other staff, a task O*NET lists for the occupation.
Local pay
New York has the most lab professionals among the 29 metros (about 16,220) and the highest median, $96,930, about $12,800 above the Bay Area ($84,130) and $34,000 above the national median. Portland, Albany and Boston follow. Pittsburgh is the outlier at the bottom, at $47,610.
| Metro area | Median | 10th – 90th | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | $96,930 +54% | $49,440 – $133,110 | 16,220 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | $84,130 +34% | $55,570 – $133,660 | 5,210 |
| Portland | $83,010 +32% | $49,660 – $116,990 | 1,540 |
| Albany | $80,000 +27% | $40,920 – $104,060 | 830 |
| Boston | $79,480 +26% | $47,910 – $107,260 | 8,710 |
| Seattle | $78,170 +24% | $49,180 – $123,660 | 4,610 |
| Buffalo | $78,050 +24% | $48,370 – $104,110 | 710 |
| Providence | $76,960 +22% | $42,670 – $101,870 | 1,410 |
| Chicago | $73,960 +18% | $44,580 – $100,820 | 7,620 |
| Washington, DC | $70,300 +12% | $43,460 – $104,290 | 5,680 |
| Metro area | Median | 10th – 90th | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $70,050 +11% | $48,610 – $102,220 | 2,890 |
| Los Angeles | $67,430 +7% | $46,790 – $122,540 | 10,150 |
| Atlanta | $65,530 +4% | $39,100 – $105,420 | 6,750 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | $65,210 +4% | $49,490 – $98,990 | 3,000 |
| Nashville | $65,060 +3% | $39,520 – $97,180 | 3,050 |
| San Diego | $63,770 +1% | $45,130 – $127,710 | 2,740 |
| Tampa | $62,550 -1% | $37,530 – $98,660 | 4,830 |
| Phoenix | $62,530 -1% | $40,630 – $99,560 | 5,160 |
| Charlotte | $62,360 -1% | $41,240 – $91,880 | 2,020 |
| Miami | $61,970 -2% | $38,260 – $101,390 | 7,570 |
| Houston | $61,350 -3% | $39,410 – $98,500 | 7,410 |
| Hartford | $60,840 -3% | $40,530 – $103,960 | 880 |
| Philadelphia | $59,790 -5% | $40,490 – $94,900 | 6,150 |
| Raleigh | $59,750 -5% | $40,190 – $86,490 | 1,810 |
| Austin | $59,570 -5% | $36,680 – $94,110 | 1,860 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $59,280 -6% | $38,750 – $97,150 | 9,420 |
| Detroit | $58,910 -6% | $37,740 – $95,110 | 4,570 |
| Baltimore | $57,930 -8% | $33,350 – $95,340 | 3,970 |
| Pittsburgh | $47,610 -24% | $37,130 – $79,960 | 2,610 |
BLS metro estimates, May 2025. Percent compares the metro median with the national median. "Jobs" is BLS estimated employment in the metro; blank where BLS does not publish it.
For lab managers
BLS reports a median of $69,190 in private hospitals, which employ 36 percent of the occupation, against $58,320 in medical and diagnostic laboratories (19 percent) and $56,850 in physicians' offices.
A single offer pegged to the $62,930 combined median overpays many MLT roles and underpays MLS roles. Use the lower and upper halves of the range.
Hospital labs run nights, weekends and holidays. OEWS figures are straight-time pay and exclude premium pay, so a differential sits on top of these numbers.
In states that license lab personnel, a candidate from out of state may need time to qualify. Build that into the start date.
Outlook
BLS projects average growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 20,800 openings a year across 343,000 jobs. Most of those openings will come from replacing staff who retire or move on, not from new lab positions.
BLS Employment Projections via O*NET OnLine. Projections cover Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians as a whole.
Compare
At the median, lab professionals earn more than phlebotomists ($45,230) and about the same as surgical technologists ($64,650), but less than radiologic technologists ($80,110). The gap to registered nurses is about $34,600.
| Role | BLS median | 2027 estimate | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lab Technician | $62,930 | $67,000 | Average |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 | $48,000 | Much faster than average |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 | $68,500 | Faster than average |
| Radiologic Technologist | $80,110 | $85,000 | Faster than average |
| Registered Nurse | $97,550 | $103,500 | Faster than average |
FAQ
BLS reports clinical laboratory technologists and technicians together. The median for the combined occupation was $62,930 in May 2025, and the middle half earned between $47,650 and $81,450. Technicians, who usually have an associate's degree, tend to sit in the lower part of that range. The 2027 planning median is about $67,000.
Generally yes, although BLS does not publish separate figures. Technologists, also called medical laboratory scientists, perform more complex tests and typically hold a bachelor's degree, while technicians usually have an associate's degree and run routine tests under supervision. That difference is a large part of why the combined range is so wide.
Divide the $62,930 May 2025 median by a 2,080-hour full-time year and you get about $30.25 an hour. The 10th percentile is about $18.71 and the 90th about $48.55. Night and weekend shift differentials are not included, because BLS wage figures exclude premium pay.
Hospitals, at the median. BLS reports $69,190 for lab technologists and technicians in private hospitals in May 2025, compared with $58,320 in medical and diagnostic laboratories and $56,850 in physicians' offices. Educational services paid $63,690. Private hospitals are also the largest employer, with 36 percent of the occupation's jobs.
In some states. BLS says some states require laboratory personnel to be licensed or registered and points to state health departments and licensing boards for the rules. Separately, many employers look for certification as a medical laboratory technician or scientist, which usually requires completing an accredited program first.
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