# Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-and-clinical-laboratory-technicians
- SOC code: 29-2012.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $62,930 (10th percentile $38,910, 90th percentile $100,990)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +2.7%
- Openings a year: 20,800
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians".

## Interest profile (code RIC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 84 |
| Investigative (I) | 82 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 31 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 64 |

## What you'd do

- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 88/100)
- Getting Information (importance 88/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 88/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 87/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 86/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 84/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 84/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 80/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 78/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 78/100)

## Skills

Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Speaking, Time Management, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Chemistry, English Language, Biology, Medicine and Dentistry, Education and Training, Computers and Electronics, Administrative, Customer and Personal Service, Mathematics, Public Safety and Security

## Also called

Blood and Plasma Lab Assistant (Blood and Plasma Laboratory Assistant), Blood Bank Lab Tech (Blood Bank Laboratory Technician), Blood Bank Technician (Blood Bank Tech), Blood Technician (Blood Tech), Blood Typer, Clinical Lab Assistant (Clinical Laboratory Assistant), Clinical Lab Tech (Clinical Laboratory Technician), Clinical Technician (Clinical Tech), Donor Center Technician (Donor Center Tech), Hematology Technician (Hematology Tech)

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5108) (CIP 5108, 1,063 colleges)
- [Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5110) (CIP 5110, 824 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Loma Linda University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/loma-linda-university-1516) | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $112,525 | $125,835 | $20,000 |
| [CUNY York College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-york-college-749) | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $118,710 | $122,313 | not reported |
| [Stony Brook University SUNY](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stony-brook-university-suny-2611) | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $115,173 | $110,827 | $19,000 |
| [Mercy College-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/mercy-college-new-york-1643) | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $116,152 | $110,519 | $25,000 |
| [California State University-Dominguez Hills](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-dominguez-hills-367) | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $46,385 | $109,642 | $21,625 |
| [CUNY Hunter College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-hunter-college-739) | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $96,335 | $104,791 | not reported |
| [Farmingdale State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/farmingdale-state-college-941) | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $107,484 | $104,169 | not reported |
| [Marist College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/marist-college-1597) | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $108,720 | $101,370 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-and-clinical-laboratory-technologists): $62,930 median pay
- [Histotechnologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/histotechnologists): $62,930 median pay
- [Histology Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/histology-technicians): $62,930 median pay
- [Cytogenetic Technologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cytogenetic-technologists): $62,930 median pay
- [Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cardiovascular-technologists-and-technicians): $74,310 median pay
- [Cytotechnologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cytotechnologists): $62,930 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.