Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians vs Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists: Same National Data, Different Work

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians vs Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists: what changes?

These careers share the BLS benchmark for Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians. Its pay, growth, and openings cannot distinguish these specialties. Consider Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians if you want to perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Consider Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists if you would rather perform complex medical laboratory tests for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Entry credentials differ: Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians, associate degree (technician route); Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists, bachelor's degree (technologist route).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians and Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

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.

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

Compare the practical differences

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

National median pay (2025): $62,930
Route into the job: 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.
Prior related experience: Prior experience requirements need verification for this occupation.
Training and licensing: Verify the specialty's training, licensing, and full preparation time with an accredited program or employer.
Physical work: Handling biological samples requires protective equipment and safety procedures. Repetitive tasks and prolonged standing can occur.
Schedule and hours: Hospital laboratories may operate overnight, on weekends, and on holidays. Ask about shift assignments in the setting you are considering.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 20,800

Know before you choose

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

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

See the full Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians brief

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists

National median pay (2025): $62,930
Route into the job: A bachelor's degree in medical technology or a related life science is typical for technologists. Accredited programs include laboratory and clinical training; check certification eligibility and state requirements.
Prior related experience: Prior experience requirements need verification for this occupation.
Training and licensing: Verify the specialty's training, licensing, and full preparation time with an accredited program or employer.
Physical work: Handling biological samples requires protective equipment and safety procedures. Repetitive tasks and prolonged standing can occur.
Schedule and hours: Hospital laboratories may operate overnight, on weekends, and on holidays. Ask about shift assignments in the setting you are considering.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 20,800

Know before you choose

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

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

See the full Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists brief

How the national numbers differ

Shared national labor-market benchmark

BLS reports pay, growth, and openings for the combined occupation. These figures cannot rank its specialties; compare their duties and qualification routes separately.

59/ 100

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

55.8/ 100

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians vs Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists

Dimension	Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians	Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
Median pay (2025)	$62,930	$62,930
Pay percentile	53.6 percentile	53.6 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	2.7%	2.7%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	20,800	20,800
2025 employment	343,000	343,000
How you qualify	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.	A bachelor's degree in medical technology or a related life science is typical for technologists. Accredited programs include laboratory and clinical training; check certification eligibility and state requirements.
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 4
Related work experience	Prior experience requirements need verification for this occupation.	Prior experience requirements need verification for this occupation.
On-the-job training	Verify the specialty's training, licensing, and full preparation time with an accredited program or employer.	Verify the specialty's training, licensing, and full preparation time with an accredited program or employer.
Schedules	Hospital laboratories may operate overnight, on weekends, and on holidays. Ask about shift assignments in the setting you are considering.	Hospital laboratories may operate overnight, on weekends, and on holidays. Ask about shift assignments in the setting you are considering.
Physical work	Handling biological samples requires protective equipment and safety procedures. Repetitive tasks and prolonged standing can occur.	Handling biological samples requires protective equipment and safety procedures. Repetitive tasks and prolonged standing can occur.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

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Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians vs Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists

How the national numbers differ

Shared national labor-market benchmark

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians vs Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists

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