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Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeModerate pressure

What they do

Perform complex medical laboratory tests for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May train or supervise staff.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • 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

  • Operate, calibrate, or maintain equipment used in quantitative or qualitative analysis, such as spectrophotometers, calorimeters, flame photometers, or computer-controlled analyzers.
  • Harvest cell cultures at optimum time, based on knowledge of cell cycle differences and culture conditions.
  • Set up, clean, and maintain laboratory equipment.
  • Obtain, cut, stain, and mount biological material on slides for microscopic study and diagnosis, following standard laboratory procedures.
  • Develop, standardize, evaluate, or modify procedures, techniques, or tests used in the analysis of specimens or in medical laboratory experiments.
  • 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.

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: 6 months to 1 year

Career path

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

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist is usually a job you get after finishing a bachelor's degree and a short hands-on training period, so it is an entry-level career for people with a degree. From starting college, the usual route takes about 4 to 5 years.

  1. Bachelor's degree in clinical laboratory science, medical laboratory science, or biology/chemistry

    4 years

    You learn how blood, tissue, and other samples are tested, and you take chemistry, biology, and microbiology courses that build the base for lab work.

  2. Clinical laboratory training (hospital or clinical lab internship)

    6 months to 1 year

    You practice real lab tests under supervision, which gives you the hands-on experience employers look for before you work on your own.

  3. Medical Laboratory Technologist

    Ongoing career

    You run complex tests that help doctors diagnose and treat illness, and you may train or supervise newer lab staff over time.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Medical Laboratory Technologist

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on harder testing, troubleshoot equipment and results, and guide newer technologists, which usually requires strong skills and a track record of accurate work.

  2. Laboratory Supervisor

    3-5 years in a senior technologist role of experience first

    You manage lab schedules, staff, quality checks, and budgets, so you need leadership skills and a good understanding of lab rules and safety.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, chemistry, and mathThese classes are the foundation for a lab science degree and show you whether you enjoy testing and analysis.
  • Join the science club or science fairDoing experiments and presenting results builds the careful, step-by-step habits lab work needs.
  • Volunteer at a hospital or clinicSeeing how labs connect to patient care helps you decide if this field fits you.
  • Get a starter job or volunteer role in a healthcare settingCustomer-facing or support work teaches reliability, teamwork, and following safety rules.
  • Learn basic computer and data skillsLabs use computer systems to record and check results, so comfort with spreadsheets and software helps.

In college

  • Major in clinical laboratory science, medical laboratory science, or biology/chemistryA lab-focused major gives you the lab skills and science knowledge this career requires.
  • Look for a program with a clinical internshipHands-on hospital or clinical lab training is a common requirement before working as a technologist.
  • Get a campus lab job or research assistant positionWorking in a university lab builds practical experience with equipment, sample handling, and record-keeping.
  • Join a pre-health or science student organizationThese groups offer networking, guest speakers, and a way to learn about healthcare careers.
  • Plan for the professional certification examMany employers expect lab technologists to pass a national certification exam, so learn what your program prepares you to take.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask your school counselor or a local hospital about shadowing or volunteering in a lab to see the work up close.
  • When choosing a college program, look for one that includes a clinical lab internship, since that hands-on training is a common step into this job.
  • Build strong grades in chemistry, biology, and math now, because most lab science degrees depend on these subjects.

Related jobs that often lead here

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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