Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2010) earn a median $62,930 a year ($30.26 an hour) in the United States, with 332,940 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New York.
What clinical laboratory technologists and technicians do
This BLS grouping joins two SOC occupations. Medical and clinical laboratory technologists perform complex medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease, and may train or supervise staff. Medical and clinical laboratory technicians perform routine tests for the same purposes and may work under the supervision of a medical technologist. Technologist tasks in O*NET include analyzing biological samples for chemical content or reaction, testing body fluids such as blood, urine or spinal fluid, studying blood samples for cell counts, morphology and compatibility for transfusion with microscopic techniques, and operating and calibrating analyzers and spectrophotometers. Technicians run chemical analyses of blood or urine with a microscope or automatic analyzer, prepare reagents and solutions, collect blood or tissue samples, and instruct other technicians. Both groups set up, clean and maintain laboratory equipment, enter results into computers and help assure the accuracy of results. About half of technologist respondents report a bachelor's degree, and about a third an associate degree. Alternate titles include clinical laboratory scientist, blood bank technologist and clinical laboratory technician.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation (52 percent).
Also called: Biochemistry Technologist, Blood Bank Laboratory Technologist, Blood Bank Medical Technologist, Blood Bank Technologist, Cath Lab Technologist (Catheterization Laboratory Technologist).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.71 | $22.91 | $30.26 | $39.16 | $48.55 | $32.38 | 332,940 |
| Annual | $38,910 | $47,650 | $62,930 | $81,450 | $100,990 | $67,350 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where clinical laboratory technologists and technicians earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $24.07 | $31.68 | $46.77 | $58.13 | $63.72 | $45.00 | 16,460 | 1.70 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $50,060 | $65,890 | $97,280 | $120,900 | $132,530 | $93,610 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $23.68 | $29.98 | $39.91 | $49.50 | $56.56 | $40.38 | 2,660 | 1.35 | 0.63 |
| Annual | $49,260 | $62,360 | $83,010 | $102,950 | $117,640 | $83,990 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $20.24 | $27.58 | $38.95 | $43.42 | $48.04 | $35.83 | 800 | 1.16 | 0.54 |
| Annual | $42,090 | $57,360 | $81,020 | $90,310 | $99,930 | $74,530 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $22.77 | $25.97 | $38.04 | $47.66 | $50.84 | $37.13 | 10,850 | 2.98 | 1.39 |
| Annual | $47,360 | $54,020 | $79,120 | $99,130 | $105,750 | $77,230 | ||||
| Vermont | Hourly | $27.14 | $31.55 | $37.83 | $46.41 | $48.61 | $38.51 | 460 | 1.52 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $56,460 | $65,610 | $78,680 | $96,530 | $101,120 | $80,100 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $18.43 | $21.63 | $28.51 | $37.38 | $45.59 | $29.68 | 29,530 | 2.10 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $38,330 | $44,990 | $59,290 | $77,750 | $94,830 | $61,730 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $22.88 | $27.26 | $36.54 | $43.02 | $60.99 | $37.91 | 29,210 | 1.60 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $47,580 | $56,700 | $76,010 | $89,480 | $126,870 | $78,840 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.04 | $20.04 | $29.09 | $38.42 | $46.57 | $30.60 | 25,790 | 2.60 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $37,530 | $41,680 | $60,510 | $79,920 | $96,860 | $63,650 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $24.07 | $31.68 | $46.77 | $58.13 | $63.72 | $45.00 | 16,460 | 1.70 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $50,060 | $65,890 | $97,280 | $120,900 | $132,530 | $93,610 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $19.16 | $22.74 | $29.16 | $37.35 | $41.58 | $29.87 | 13,710 | 2.77 | 1.30 |
| Annual | $39,860 | $47,300 | $60,650 | $77,700 | $86,490 | $62,140 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Kingston, NY | Hourly | $21.54 | $37.47 | $49.61 | $55.39 | $65.35 | $45.24 | 60 | 1.01 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $44,810 | $77,940 | $103,180 | $115,210 | $135,930 | $94,100 | ||||
| Binghamton, NY | Hourly | $23.16 | $28.32 | $49.06 | $49.49 | $56.36 | $42.17 | 130 | 1.35 | 0.63 |
| Annual | $48,180 | $58,910 | $102,040 | $102,950 | $117,230 | $87,710 | ||||
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | Hourly | $24.24 | $34.55 | $47.25 | $55.69 | $60.62 | $45.37 | 340 | 1.25 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $50,420 | $71,860 | $98,290 | $115,830 | $126,090 | $94,370 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $23.77 | $31.07 | $46.60 | $59.59 | $63.99 | $44.83 | 16,220 | 1.71 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $49,440 | $64,620 | $96,930 | $123,950 | $133,110 | $93,240 | ||||
| Bend, OR | Hourly | $25.13 | $32.78 | $43.40 | $49.04 | $53.94 | $42.53 | 110 | 1.00 | 0.46 |
| Annual | $52,280 | $68,180 | $90,270 | $101,990 | $112,200 | $88,460 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $23.77 | $31.07 | $46.60 | $59.59 | $63.99 | $44.83 | 16,220 | 1.71 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $49,440 | $64,620 | $96,930 | $123,950 | $133,110 | $93,240 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $22.50 | $24.24 | $32.42 | $40.22 | $58.92 | $36.32 | 10,150 | 1.62 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $46,790 | $50,430 | $67,430 | $83,660 | $122,540 | $75,540 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $18.63 | $19.58 | $28.50 | $39.47 | $46.71 | $30.19 | 9,420 | 2.33 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $38,750 | $40,720 | $59,280 | $82,090 | $97,150 | $62,790 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $23.03 | $25.97 | $38.21 | $48.53 | $51.57 | $37.45 | 8,710 | 3.22 | 1.50 |
| Annual | $47,910 | $54,020 | $79,480 | $100,940 | $107,260 | $77,890 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $21.43 | $25.88 | $35.56 | $40.41 | $48.47 | $35.15 | 7,620 | 1.69 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $44,580 | $53,820 | $73,960 | $84,050 | $100,820 | $73,120 | ||||
Top industries employing clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals employ 44.1% of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians nationally (146,970 jobs) at a median $68,440 a year ($32.90 an hour), followed by Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (19.8%) and Offices of Physicians (10.2%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 146,970 | 44.1% | $68,440 | $32.90 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories NAICS 621500 | 65,980 | 19.8% | $58,320 | $28.04 |
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 34,120 | 10.2% | $56,850 | $27.33 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services NAICS 621900 | 12,550 | 3.8% | $48,140 | $23.15 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 11,410 | 3.4% | $63,690 | $30.62 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (332,940). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $57,800 for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in May 2021 and $62,930 in May 2025, with employment of 318,780 and 332,940.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $57,800 | $27.79 | 318,780 |
| May 2022 | $57,380 | $27.59 | 333,600 |
| May 2023 | $60,780 | $29.22 | 334,380 |
| May 2024 | $61,890 | $29.75 | 343,040 |
| May 2025 | $62,930 | $30.26 | 332,940 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York profile | $46.77 | $97,280 | $50,060 | $132,530 | 16,460 | 1.70 | 0.79 |
| 2 | Oregon profile | $39.91 | $83,010 | $49,260 | $117,640 | 2,660 | 1.35 | 0.63 |
| 3 | New Hampshire profile | $38.95 | $81,020 | $42,090 | $99,930 | 800 | 1.16 | 0.54 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | $38.04 | $79,120 | $47,360 | $105,750 | 10,850 | 2.98 | 1.39 |
| 5 | Vermont profile | $37.83 | $78,680 | $56,460 | $101,120 | 460 | 1.52 | 0.71 |
| 6 | District of Columbia profile | $36.81 | $76,560 | $47,470 | $126,300 | 960 | 1.37 | 0.64 |
| 7 | California profile | $36.54 | $76,010 | $47,580 | $126,870 | 29,210 | 1.60 | 0.75 |
| 8 | Rhode Island profile | $36.44 | $75,780 | $41,850 | $102,650 | 1,060 | 2.11 | 0.98 |
| 9 | Minnesota profile | $35.79 | $74,440 | $49,810 | $101,190 | 7,190 | 2.44 | 1.14 |
| 10 | Washington profile | $34.98 | $72,760 | $46,780 | $112,020 | 7,430 | 2.09 | 0.98 |
| 11 | Illinois profile | $34.59 | $71,950 | $44,980 | $99,970 | 10,330 | 1.69 | 0.79 |
| 12 | Colorado profile | $33.68 | $70,050 | $47,050 | $102,900 | 5,000 | 1.74 | 0.81 |
| 13 | Maine profile | $33.02 | $68,690 | $46,280 | $94,320 | 1,250 | 1.95 | 0.91 |
| 14 | Delaware profile | $33.00 | $68,630 | $46,650 | $98,420 | 690 | 1.43 | 0.67 |
| 15 | New Jersey profile | $32.91 | $68,450 | $46,530 | $107,470 | 7,000 | 1.63 | 0.76 |
| 16 | Hawaii profile | $31.74 | $66,020 | $48,070 | $100,340 | 1,090 | 1.74 | 0.81 |
| 17 | Wyoming profile | $31.50 | $65,510 | $34,270 | $99,440 | 450 | 1.61 | 0.75 |
| 18 | Connecticut profile | $31.40 | $65,310 | $43,320 | $111,940 | 3,670 | 2.16 | 1.01 |
| 19 | Montana profile | $31.34 | $65,190 | $38,910 | $97,070 | 1,020 | 2.00 | 0.93 |
| 20 | Ohio profile | $30.67 | $63,800 | $39,250 | $95,100 | 13,050 | 2.35 | 1.10 |
| 21 | Maryland profile | $30.62 | $63,690 | $34,760 | $98,260 | 6,200 | 2.25 | 1.05 |
| 22 | North Dakota profile | $30.14 | $62,680 | $37,300 | $83,920 | 1,370 | 3.20 | 1.49 |
| 23 | Arizona profile | $30.06 | $62,530 | $40,520 | $99,560 | 6,440 | 1.99 | 0.93 |
| 24 | Georgia profile | $29.89 | $62,180 | $37,970 | $101,020 | 11,540 | 2.36 | 1.10 |
| 25 | Tennessee profile | $29.84 | $62,070 | $37,800 | $87,210 | 8,410 | 2.56 | 1.20 |
| 26 | Kansas profile | $29.83 | $62,050 | $38,490 | $94,780 | 3,930 | 2.73 | 1.28 |
| 27 | West Virginia profile | $29.72 | $61,810 | $37,240 | $88,470 | 1,800 | 2.57 | 1.20 |
| 28 | Michigan profile | $29.45 | $61,260 | $37,560 | $91,280 | 10,000 | 2.27 | 1.06 |
| 29 | Virginia profile | $29.35 | $61,050 | $38,910 | $96,080 | 7,150 | 1.74 | 0.81 |
| 30 | Alaska profile | $29.31 | $60,950 | $44,550 | $109,080 | 680 | 2.08 | 0.97 |
| 31 | South Dakota profile | $29.28 | $60,890 | $37,550 | $81,560 | 1,280 | 2.81 | 1.31 |
| 32 | Kentucky profile | $29.27 | $60,880 | $37,800 | $88,750 | 4,860 | 2.43 | 1.13 |
| 33 | Wisconsin profile | $29.17 | $60,670 | $46,350 | $84,980 | 8,480 | 2.88 | 1.35 |
| 34 | North Carolina profile | $29.16 | $60,650 | $39,860 | $86,490 | 13,710 | 2.77 | 1.30 |
| 35 | Nebraska profile | $29.11 | $60,540 | $38,090 | $85,610 | 1,930 | 1.88 | 0.88 |
| 36 | Florida profile | $29.09 | $60,510 | $37,530 | $96,860 | 25,790 | 2.60 | 1.21 |
| 37 | Missouri profile | $28.99 | $60,300 | $37,490 | $91,540 | 7,670 | 2.61 | 1.22 |
| 38 | Texas profile | $28.51 | $59,290 | $38,330 | $94,830 | 29,530 | 2.10 | 0.98 |
| 39 | Nevada profile | $27.56 | $57,320 | $40,390 | $103,890 | 2,040 | 1.31 | 0.61 |
| 40 | Indiana profile | $27.44 | $57,080 | $38,910 | $87,470 | 7,210 | 2.25 | 1.05 |
| 41 | South Carolina profile | $26.58 | $55,280 | $36,420 | $81,930 | 4,380 | 1.90 | 0.89 |
| 42 | Louisiana profile | $26.19 | $54,460 | $33,140 | $84,720 | 3,790 | 1.96 | 0.91 |
| 43 | Iowa profile | $26.09 | $54,260 | $38,790 | $79,660 | 3,240 | 2.08 | 0.97 |
| 44 | Oklahoma profile | $25.63 | $53,300 | $35,780 | $83,970 | 4,250 | 2.49 | 1.16 |
| 45 | Pennsylvania profile | $24.85 | $51,680 | $37,630 | $86,390 | 13,020 | 2.15 | 1.00 |
| 46 | Mississippi profile | $24.35 | $50,640 | $33,760 | $81,200 | 3,070 | 2.64 | 1.23 |
| 47 | Arkansas profile | $23.88 | $49,670 | $35,580 | $79,420 | 3,180 | 2.44 | 1.14 |
| 48 | Alabama profile | $23.77 | $49,440 | $34,790 | $79,520 | 7,250 | 3.43 | 1.60 |
| 49 | Utah profile | $23.60 | $49,090 | $38,220 | $86,080 | 6,370 | 3.67 | 1.71 |
| 50 | Idaho profile | $22.81 | $47,450 | $38,130 | $92,280 | 1,590 | 1.86 | 0.87 |
| 51 | New Mexico profile | $22.77 | $47,360 | $36,770 | $80,990 | 2,160 | 2.48 | 1.16 |
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-2010 Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-2011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-2012, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-2011.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.