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Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipModerate pressure

What they do

Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $62,930 Median per year · $30.26/hr Most earn $38,910–$100,990

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Perform quality control analyses to ensure accuracy of test results.
  • Supervise or instruct other technicians or laboratory assistants.
  • Obtain specimens, cultivating, isolating, and identifying microorganisms for analysis.
  • Obtain specimens, cultivating, isolating, and identifying microorganisms for analysis.
  • Perform quality control analyses to ensure accuracy of test results.
  • Examine cells stained with dye to locate abnormalities.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 20,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't break this career out by industry.

Experience before this job: 3 to 6 months

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 3 to 6 monthsEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. Most people qualify after a certificate program or apprenticeship, and the typical related experience before starting is about 3 to 6 months.

  1. High school diploma with biology and chemistry

    4 years

    Strong science and math classes build the base you need for lab training programs.

  2. Medical laboratory certificate program or apprenticeship

    1-2 years

    You learn lab testing methods, safety rules, and how to run and check blood and other samples, which prepares you for entry-level lab work.

  3. Medical Laboratory Technician

    3-6 months of related experience

    You perform routine lab tests for diagnosis and treatment, usually under the supervision of a medical technologist.

Where it can lead

  1. Medical Laboratory Technologist

    Varies by employer; check job ads of experience first

    You take on more complex testing, troubleshoot equipment, and often supervise technicians. This role usually requires a bachelor's degree.

  2. Histotechnologist

    Varies by employer; check job ads of experience first

    You specialize in preparing tissue samples for microscope analysis, which usually requires a bachelor's degree and more specialized training.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, chemistry, and mathThese classes give you the science and measurement skills used in every clinical lab test.
  • Join a science or health clubClubs like HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) or a science club let you build teamwork and learn about health careers.
  • Volunteer at a hospital or clinicEven non-clinical volunteering shows you how labs fit into patient care and looks good on program applications.
  • Get a starter job that teaches care and precisionJobs like a pharmacy or stock role teach you to follow careful procedures and work accurately under time pressure.

In college

  • Take anatomy, microbiology, and chemistryThese courses prepare you for lab programs and for understanding what the tests measure.
  • Apply for a lab or research assistant jobCampus lab work gives you hands-on practice with pipetting, sample handling, and recordkeeping.
  • Look into a certificate or apprenticeship in medical laboratory workCompleting this training is the typical route into the job, so start researching programs that fit your schedule.
  • Join a health professions or science student groupThese groups help you network with people in healthcare and learn about job openings.
  • Work on communication and attention to detailLab technicians document results carefully and work with clinicians, so clear writing and precision matter.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for lab or phlebotomy-related work, like a patient service or lab support job, to get hands-on experience early.
  • Choose a program accredited by a recognized health education body and check that it includes a hands-on clinical or lab practicum.
  • Ask a working lab technician what their day looks like. A short conversation can show you whether this path fits your interests.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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