# Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-and-clinical-laboratory-technologists
- SOC code: 29-2011.00
- 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 IRC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 80 |
| Investigative (I) | 86 |
| Artistic (A) | 2 |
| Social (S) | 30 |
| Enterprising (E) | 9 |
| Conventional (C) | 67 |

## What you'd do

- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 96/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 96/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 94/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 91/100)
- Processing Information (importance 89/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 89/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 87/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 87/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 86/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 86/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Science, Active Listening, Quality Control Analysis, Reading Comprehension, Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Operation and Control

## Knowledge

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

## Also called

Biochemistry Technologist, Blood Bank Laboratory Technologist, Blood Bank Medical Technologist, Blood Bank Technologist, Cath Lab Technologist (Catheterization Laboratory Technologist), Chemistry Technologist, Clinical Chemist, Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS), Clinical Laboratory Technologist, Clinical Research Associate

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

- [Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5110) (CIP 5110, 824 colleges)
- [Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2604) (CIP 2604, 182 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 |
| [Harvard University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/harvard-university-1157) | Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $48,738 | $117,816 | 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 |

## Related careers

- [Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-and-clinical-laboratory-technicians): $62,930 median pay
- [Histotechnologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/histotechnologists): $62,930 median pay
- [Cytogenetic Technologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cytogenetic-technologists): $62,930 median pay
- [Histology Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/histology-technicians): $62,930 median pay
- [Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cardiovascular-technologists-and-technicians): $74,310 median pay
- [Nuclear Medicine Technologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/nuclear-medicine-technologists): $101,370 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.