Healthcare · Career brief

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$62,930

Middle-of-the-pack pay

2025 national median. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

2.7%

Slow projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for growth.

3Openings

20,800

Lots of annual openings

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Top quarter for openings among careers on ChooseField.

4Route in

Associate degree

The specialty-specific route needs verification

Associate degree (technician route). Prior-experience requirements vary or need verification.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Conduct chemical analyses of body fluids, such as blood or urine, using microscope or automatic analyzer to detect abnormalities or diseases and enter findings into computer.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

Handling biological samples requires protective equipment and safety procedures. Repetitive tasks and prolonged standing can occur.

ChooseField take

The standout national signal is opening volume; it ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with an associate-degree path. Main tradeoff: Handling biological samples requires protective equipment and safety procedures. Repetitive tasks and prolonged standing can occur.

Before choosing, compare:Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists Exercise Physiologists Dietitians and Nutritionists

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians with another field Explore rankings in Healthcare Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

The labor-market benchmark for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians covers the broader BLS group Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians (29-2010). It does not isolate this specialty.

National median pay (2025)

$62,930

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

2.7%employment growth20,800openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

An associate degree in clinical laboratory science is a typical technician route. Some certificate routes also exist. Check clinical placements, certification eligibility, and state requirements; the combined BLS group's bachelor's category does not describe every technician route.

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

BLS qualification guidance · Reviewed September 6, 2026.

2025 employment

343,000

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians (29-2010).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Conduct chemical analyses of body fluids, such as blood or urine, using microscope or automatic analyzer to detect abnormalities or diseases and enter findings into computer.
Prepare standard volumetric solutions or reagents to be combined with samples, following standardized formulas or experimental procedures.
Collect blood or tissue samples from patients, observing principles of asepsis to obtain blood sample.
Supervise or instruct other technicians or laboratory assistants.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

Handling biological samples requires protective equipment and safety procedures. Repetitive tasks and prolonged standing can occur.
Hospital laboratories may operate overnight, on weekends, and on holidays. Ask about shift assignments in the setting you are considering.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Processing Information4.5
Working with Computers4.5
Getting Information4.4
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.4
Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.3

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic6.0
Investigative5.9
Conventional4.9
Social2.9
Artistic1.0
Enterprising1.0

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Biology Chemistry Mathematics Public Safety and Security

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Try an approved first-aid, CPR, patient-care, or health-science workshop. Use supervised training or simulation only.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe the broader BLS group, Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians. They are not separate estimates for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians, and the group's education category does not establish this specialty's qualification route.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Working conditions and hours

Handling biological samples requires protective equipment and safety procedures. Repetitive tasks and prolonged standing can occur.

Hospital laboratories may operate overnight, on weekends, and on holidays. Ask about shift assignments in the setting you are considering.

BLS: entry routes, workplace, and schedules · Reviewed September 6, 2026. BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

A specialty-specific experience requirement is not established here. Compare entry-level vacancies, licensing rules, and employer expectations before choosing a route.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options