Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists vs Medical Dosimetrists: $63K vs $147K Median Pay

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

Consider Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists if you want to perform complex medical laboratory tests for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Consider Medical Dosimetrists if you would rather generate radiation treatment plans, develop radiation dose calculations, communicate and supervise the treatment plan implementation, and consult with members of radiation oncology team. Entry credentials differ: Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists, bachelor's degree (technologist route); Medical Dosimetrists, bachelor's degree.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Medical Dosimetrists. 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 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 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

Medical Dosimetrists

National median pay (2025): $147,470
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Design the arrangement of radiation fields to reduce exposure to critical patient structures, such as organs, using computers, manuals, and guides.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 200

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (3,500 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Medical Dosimetrists brief

How the national numbers differ

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists has the edge on annual openings

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists is at 20,800 annual openings, compared with 200 annual openings for Medical Dosimetrists.

Medical Dosimetrists has the edge on median pay

Medical Dosimetrists is at $147,470, compared with $62,930 for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists.

Medical Dosimetrists has the edge on projected growth

Medical Dosimetrists is at 5% projected growth, compared with 2.7% projected growth for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists.

55.8/ 100

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists

50.8/ 100

Medical Dosimetrists

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 Technologists vs Medical Dosimetrists

Dimension	Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists	Medical Dosimetrists
Median pay (2025)	$62,930	$147,470
Pay percentile	53.6 percentile	94.6 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	2.7%	5%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	20,800	200
2025 employment	343,000	3,500
How you qualify	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.	Bachelor's degree
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 4	Job Zone 4
Related work experience	Prior experience requirements need verification for this occupation.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	Verify the specialty's training, licensing, and full preparation time with an accredited program or employer.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Schedules	Hospital laboratories may operate overnight, on weekends, and on holidays. Ask about shift assignments in the setting you are considering.	Varies by employer and setting; ask about shifts, overtime, on-call work, and predictable hours.
Physical work	Handling biological samples requires protective equipment and safety procedures. Repetitive tasks and prolonged standing can occur.	Unknown: review standing, lifting, repetitive movement, and posture with a practitioner. No overall physical-demand rating is assigned.

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 Technologists vs Medical Dosimetrists: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists

Medical Dosimetrists

How the national numbers differ

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists has the edge on annual openings

Medical Dosimetrists has the edge on median pay

Medical Dosimetrists has the edge on projected growth

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists vs Medical Dosimetrists

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Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists vs Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

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