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Science, Engineering & Lab career
Medical Laboratory Technician
Also called: MLT · Clinical Laboratory Technician · Medical Laboratory Scientist · Lab Tech
What medical laboratory technicians do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a medical laboratory technician do?
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians collect samples and perform tests on blood, body fluids and tissue that help diagnose and treat disease. The median pay is $62,930 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 2 years (technician) or 4 years (technologist), and employment is projected to grow +2.7% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$62,930$30.26/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+2.7%2025–35, about as fast as average
- Openings per year20,800Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationBachelor's degreeBLS classification
- Time to train2 years (technician) or 4 years (technologist)Typical program length
- U.S. jobs343,000Employment, 2025
What medical laboratory technicians do
Medical lab technicians do the testing behind most medical decisions. They run blood counts, chemistry panels, urinalysis, blood typing and microbiology cultures, operate automated analyzers, perform quality control, check results for problems and report findings to doctors. Technologists, also called medical laboratory scientists, handle more complex testing and troubleshooting.
Technicians usually earn an associate degree and certification, while technologists need a bachelor’s degree. Some states license lab personnel. Hospitals have steady demand, and the work runs around the clock.
Typical duties
- Process patient samples
- Run tests on automated analyzers
- Perform manual tests and microscopy
- Run quality control
- Check and report results
- Identify critical values
- Maintain instruments and records
Work environment and schedule
Technicians work in hospital labs, reference labs, clinics and blood banks, handling biological samples with safety precautions.
Schedule: Hospital labs run 24/7, so evening, night, weekend and holiday shifts are common.
A day in the life
- Take handoff and check pending samples.
- Run morning quality control on analyzers.
- Process a rush of morning blood draws.
- Review a manual differential under the microscope.
See a full day in the life of a medical laboratory technician →
Medical Laboratory Technician salary
Half of medical laboratory technicians earned more than $62,930 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $38,910 for the lowest 10% to $100,990 for the top 10%.
Full medical laboratory technician pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a medical laboratory technician
- Take biology and chemistry
- Complete an accredited program
- Do clinical rotations
- Earn certification
- Advance
Technicians usually need an associate degree; technologists need a bachelor’s degree. Most employers require certification.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a medical laboratory technician →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Clinical chemistry
- Hematology
- Microbiology
- Blood banking
- Quality control
People skills
- Attention to detail
- Accuracy under pressure
- Communication
- Integrity
All medical laboratory technician skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Essential health care work without patient care
- Two-year path for technicians
- Steady hospital demand
- Science and problem solving
Cons
- Shift work
- Exposure to infectious samples
- Behind-the-scenes role
- Pressure on turnaround times
Certifications and licenses
- ASCP Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT): Technician certification.
- ASCP Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS): Technologist certification.
- AMT Medical Technologist: Alternative certification.
- State laboratory license: Required in some states.
Career path
- Lab Assistant: Process samples.
- Medical Lab Technician: Run tests.
- Medical Laboratory Scientist: Complex testing.
- Lab Supervisor or Manager: Lead labs.
Learn the job before day one
Our Medical Laboratory Technician training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as run daily quality control and call a critical value, safety and how to land your first job.
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Medical Laboratory Technician FAQ
How long does it take to become a lab tech?
About two years for a technician.
Do lab techs need certification?
Most employers require it.
Do lab techs work with patients?
Usually not directly, though some draw blood.
How much does a medical laboratory technician make?
The median annual wage for medical laboratory technicians was $62,930 ($30.26 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $38,910 and the highest 10% earned more than $100,990.
How long does it take to become a medical laboratory technician?
Most people need about 2 years (technician) or 4 years (technologist) of training. Technicians usually need an associate degree; technologists need a bachelor’s degree. Most employers require certification.
Do you need a degree to be a medical laboratory technician?
It depends on the role. BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as typical for the combined group, but medical lab technicians usually enter with an associate degree and certification, while technologists need a bachelor’s.
More medical laboratory technician questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 29-2010 (Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.