How to Become a Medical Laboratory Scientist
Perform complex tests on patient samples to detect, diagnose, and monitor diseases. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $62,930 per year and slower than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$62,930/yr
Middle half
$47,650 to $81,450
Job growth
Slower than average
Openings / yr
22,600
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Laboratory Techniques
- Quality Control
- Hematology
- Microbiology
- Data Interpretation
Helpful certifications
- ASCP Board of Certification (MLS)
- AMT Certification
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
8/100
Work-life balance
65/100
Stress level
42/100
Satisfaction
68/100
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a Medical Laboratory Scientist make?
The median pay for a Medical Laboratory Scientist is $62,930 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $47,650 and $81,450 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Medical Laboratory Scientist?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Medical Laboratory Science, Clinical Laboratory Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Biochemistry.
Is Medical Laboratory Scientist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is slower than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 22,600 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Medical Laboratory Scientist use most?
Common skills for this role are Laboratory Techniques, Quality Control, Hematology, Microbiology, and Data Interpretation.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).