Healthcare practitioners
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
Perform complex medical laboratory tests for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May train or supervise staff.
Median pay
$62,930
Growth to 2035
+3%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
20,800
Time to qualify*
Minimal
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians: 17% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
Also called: 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)
Outlook and AI
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians held 343,000 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 352,400 by 2035 (+3%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians vs. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians vs. Nuclear medicine technologist
- Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians vs. Health technologists and technicians, all other
- Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians vs. Phlebotomist
- Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians vs. Biological technician
- Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians vs. Radiologic technologist