What's the Salary for an Entry-Level Medical Lab Assistant?

Medical lab assistants, also called medical lab technicians, perform basic lab tests under the supervision of medical lab technologists. Read on to learn how your salary is influenced by such factors as your experience level, location and employer.

Salary Overview

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median yearly wage for medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians was $57,800 as of May 2021 (www.bls.gov). The 10th-90th percentile range of these professionals earned between $30,280 and $79,340. The BLS stated that positions for medical and clinical lab technicians were predicted to grow 7% from 2021-2031, which is average when compared to the expected growth for other job sectors.

PayScale.com reported that the 10th-90th percentile range of entry-level medical and clinical lab technicians earned between $29,000 and $52,000 as of January 2023. The median income was $40,826. Your entry-level salary can depend on multiple factors, including the industry that you choose and your location within the country.

Important Facts About This Occupation

Required Education	Associate's degree or certificate
Professional Certification	Voluntary general or specialty certification available
Key Skills	Physical stamina, attention to detail, knowledge of technology, dexterity
Similar Occupations	Biological technician, chemical technician, chemist, materials scientist

Salary by Industry

Most medical and clinical lab technicians were employed at hospitals, laboratories, and physicians' offices in May 2021, reported the BLS. Hospitals paid workers a median salary of $59,880 per year, which was slightly higher than the overall median wage for this profession. Laboratories and physicians' offices paid workers lower respective median wages of $56,050 and $53,060, respectively. The highest-paying fields for these workers in May 2021 were wholesale electronic agents and brokers and equipment and supplies wholesalers, which both offered professionals annual wages of $101,080 and $78,290 on average, reported the BLS.

Salary by Location

Your salary as a medical lab assistant can also depend on your region. The BLS reported that the states employing the most clinical lab technologists and technicians in May 2021 were California, Texas and Florida. Earnings for these states were $68,450, $53,240 and $52,280, respectively. The highest-paying state in the nation was New York, where workers earned a mean annual wage of $72,500. This state employed 17,030 workers as of May 2021. California was a high-paying state that also employed a substantial number of workers. This state employed 25,910 professionals and paid them a mean yearly salary of $68,450. Other states with high average earnings in May 2021 were Rhode Island ($70,580), Connecticut ($70,220) and Oregon ($69,330). Utah, South Dakota, Alabama, Oklahoma and Missouri were some of the states paying the lowest average wages ranging from $32,540-$51,070, according to the BLS.

Academic Requirements

If you're interested in an entry-level medical lab assistant job, you can earn an associate's degree in medical laboratory technology, biology or a related life sciences subject from a community college. You might also complete a certificate program at a college or vocational school.

Both associate's degree and certificate programs teach future lab assistants how to handle equipment, clean lab instruments and analyze patients' tissue and fluid samples. Instruction includes both lecture-based and laboratory classes. Associate's degree programs contain separate general education requirements, but both degree and certificate programs cover similar coursework, exploring such topics as these:

Chemistry
Microbiology
Phlebotomy
Safety protocols
Laboratory skills
Medical terminology