What Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists this way: "Perform complex medical laboratory tests for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May train or supervise staff."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "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"; "Operate, calibrate, or maintain equipment used in quantitative or qualitative analysis, such as spectrophotometers, calorimeters, flame photometers, or computer-controlled analyzers"; "Enter data from analysis of medical tests or clinical results into computer for storage"; "Analyze samples of biological material for chemical content or reaction".
BLS publishes one pay figure for a group of related occupations here. The group covers Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians, so the wage numbers on this page describe all of them together.
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is bachelor's degree.
Job outlook for Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 343,000 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 352,400 in 2035, an increase of 9,400 jobs (+2.7%). That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 20,800 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 6.1% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $62,930, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians earn the most
Across the 9 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $59,333 in Texas to $93,539 in New York, a gap of $34,206 (1.58 times). 7 of those 9 states average above the BLS national median of $62,930 and 2 average at or below it.
Texas employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 28,800, which is 16.0% of the 180,450 counted across them. California follows with 27,220.
Highest-paying states
New York ($93,539), New Jersey ($85,060) and New Hampshire ($79,369) lead the ranking, while Texas ($59,333) and Florida ($60,517) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians: pay against the cost of living
We compare 10 labor markets, each represented by its most populous county. After federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics (a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline), the largest yearly margin is in Bergen County, NJ (New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ) at $41,431. The smallest margin is $15,290 in Los Angeles County, CA.
The median wage for this occupation covers all four basics in 10 of the 10 markets. A one-bedroom apartment takes between 24.2% and 53.7% of take-home pay, depending on the market.
Occupations related to Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
Other occupations in the same SOC minor group (29-2000) include Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, Radiologic Technologists and Technicians, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses and Medical Records Specialists.
Frequently asked questions about Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
What is the national median wage for Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $62,930. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $59,333 to $93,539.
Which state pays Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians the most?
New York, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $93,539. New Jersey is next at $85,060.
What is the job outlook for Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians?
BLS projects employment to grow by 2.7% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 20,800 openings a year.
What education do Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians need?
The typical entry-level education is bachelor's degree, according to BLS.
Where can Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians afford to live best?
Among the markets covered, Bergen County, NJ leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes, rent, food, energy and gasoline: $41,431 on a median wage of $96,930.