How to Become a Medical Laboratory Technician
Run the routine lab tests behind diagnosis and treatment, working under medical laboratory scientists. It typically requires an associate 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
- Specimen Processing
- Lab Instrumentation
- Quality Control
- Science
- Attention to Detail
Helpful certifications
- MLT (ASCP) certification
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
1/100
Work-life balance
72/100
Stress level
61/100
Related careers
- Psychiatrist$281,870 median
- Physician (Family Medicine)$244,180 median
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)$236,590 median
- Dentist$170,950 median
- Pharmacist$140,910 median
- Optometrist$136,570 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Medical Laboratory Technician make?
The median pay for a Medical Laboratory Technician 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 Technician?
The usual entry point is an associate degree. Common majors are Medical Laboratory Science, Biology, and Health Sciences.
Is Medical Laboratory Technician 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 Technician use most?
Common skills for this role are Specimen Processing, Lab Instrumentation, Quality Control, Science, and Attention to Detail.
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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).