What is the Average Medical Laboratory Technician Salary?

The medical field is a great career to go into. It’s recession-proof because people are always getting sick and will need someone to help them. 

They can also be known as Medical Laboratory Scientists or MLTs. They collect samples and perform tests to analyze body fluids, tissue, and other substances to see if there is a reason a person is sick. 

They are people that you go to when you get your blood taken, for example.

They can work in hospitals, clinics, private laboratories, public health organizations, and research and development departments of pharmaceutical companies. 

What Do They Do?

As mentioned before, they analyze body fluids. They look at fluids like blood, urine, and tissue samples and record what they see. They also mark if it’s normal or abnormal. They are able to see if there are any diseases in your blood.

They also study blood samples to use in transfusions by identifying the number of cells, the cell morphology, or the blood group, type, and its compatibility with other blood types. 

They operate sophisticated lab equipment like microscopes and cell counters. They use automated machines and computerized instruments that can do a number of tests at the same time. 

Other Duties

Here are some other specific duties you would do as a medical laboratory technician.

You will organize work by matching computer orders with specimen labeling, sorting specimens, checking labeling, logging specimens, and arranging reports for delivery. You also keep your work area clean and orderly. 

You maintain quality results by running standards and controls, verifying equipment maintenance and advanced troubleshooting, calibrating equipment using approved testing procedures, and monitoring quality control measures and protocols.

You serve as a technical resource by participating in staff training. You answer questions of other professionals, participate in educational opportunities, read professional publications, maintain personal networks, and participate in professional organizations. 

You identify and communicate abnormal patient conditions by alerting supervisory personnel, the pathologist, the patient’s physician, or nurse. You report mandated information to the public health department or other designated officials. 

You identify and communicate abnormal patient conditions by alerting supervisory personnel, the pathologist, the patient’s physician, or nurse. You report mandated information to the public health department or other designated officials. 

(Toxicology) You identify the presence or quantity of drugs of abuse, therapeutic drugs, and toxic substances by operating toxicology instrumentation and performing manual methods for the performance of drug screens, blood alcohol levels, and carbon monoxide levels.

(Chemistry) You provide test results for patient diagnosis and treatment by operating chemistry equipment and performing hand chemistries.

(Immunology) You provide test results for patient diagnosis and treatment by operating equipment like the gamma counter, spectrophotometer, densitometer, and through methods like radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunoassay, and serological testing.

(Microbiology) You provide physicians with information for treatment of patient infection by performing technical procedures for the identification or susceptibility of bacteria, parasites, fungi, and mycobacteria. 

(Blood Bank) You assure the patient is receiving compatible blood/blood components by completing blood typing, antibody screening, compatibility testing, and antibody identification procedures.

You contribute to a safe and secure environment for patients, visitors, physicians, and co-workers by following established standards and procedures. You comply with legal regulations.

You maintain patient confidence by keeping laboratory information confidential.

You serve and protect the hospital community by adhering to professional standards, hospital policies and procedures, federal, state, and local requirements, and JCAHO standards.

You enhance laboratory services and hospital reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests. You explore opportunities to add value to job accomplishments. 

How to Become One

You’ll need an associate’s degree or a postsecondary certificate. Most associate programs lead to an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) or Associate of Science (AS) degree. 

If you want to be considered a medical lab technologist, you have to complete a bachelor’s degree. This would be the next level of career advancement for a medical lab technician. 

You can find these programs in community colleges and career or vocational schools. Make sure you find one that is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency of Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). This is usually the most respected accreditation among potential employers. 

Depending on the state you are in, you may need to get a license as well. 

What Courses You Will Take in School

There are specific courses you will take in preparation for a medical laboratory technician career. This will help you be prepared and feel comfortable in what you are doing. Here are some of the key courses.

Hematology

This course will cover the procedures, tests, and instrumentation used to sample and study human blood. Advanced courses may include information on blood chemistry and biology as well as blood disorders.

Urinalysis

This course provides an overview of the urinary system and an introduction to the collection, examination, and interpretation of urine samples. 

Microbiology

This course introduces students to the structure, biology, and reproduction cycle of microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. Lab tests for isolating and identifying disease-causing organisms are also explored. 

Clinical Chemistry

Students learn to evaluate lab results and relate them to body systems and disease processes. 

Bioethics

This is a class about the complicated ethical concerns in health care and medical research. By the end of the class course, you should be able to be fluent enough to advocate for solid ethical practices and solutions in real-life situations. 

Laboratory Management

This class is so you know how to properly manage a lab. You will learn the techniques that will help you run a lab successfully while respecting your other technicians. 

Immunohematology

This class introduces you to immunology, spending time and focus on agglutination and other reactions that occur between antigens and antibodies.

Internship

You will also probably do internships and a lot of field work to get hands-on training. A senior medical laboratory technician will probably be the one training you.

What is the Average Medical Laboratory Technician Salary?

The average medical laboratory technician salary is around $50,632. They can range anywhere between $45,339 to $55,608. The salary can change due to education, experience, and location. 

The average hourly wage is $19.29. Again could change due to different factors. 

The Cities With the Highest Medical Laboratory Technician Salary

If you are thinking about making a move while starting a new career, then you should check out these cities:

• Santa Maria, California—$62,610
• Fairbanks, Alaska—$62,020
• San Francisco—$58,130
• Bridgeport, Connecticut—$57,760
• Sebastian, Florida—$57,760

The Best-Paying States for Medical Laboratory Technicians

If you are thinking you want to go broader with where you want to move, these are the top five states, pay-wise, for medical laboratory technicians.

• Rhode Island—$57,690
• Alaska—$54,410
• Virgin Islands—$52,340
• New Jersey—$50,780
• Vermont—$50,570

Benefits that Come with the Job

There are various benefits that come with the job other than the good medical laboratory technician salary. You can get:

• Medical Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Vacation
• Retirement Plan
• Sick Leave
• Paid Time Off

These benefits depend on the employer and if you work full-time or part-time. Make sure to ask about benefits when you are getting interviewed. 

If You Can Stand Bodily Fluids, Go for It

This is a great job in the medical field that doesn’t require a lot of schooling. If you love sciences and technology, then you will feel right at home. It’s also a very active job, so if you like moving and always thinking, then this is perfect for you.

If you can’t stand the sight of blood and other bodily fluids, then you may want to look elsewhere. There are also some cons to this job – for example, if you don’t follow safety protocols, you could be exposed to diseases. If you struggle with the sciences, then you may find the schooling for this job very frustrating. 

It’s a job that’s easy to handle once you know what you are doing. You get to help people by identifying any diseases that are within them. 

You are able to live comfortably thanks to the medical laboratory technician salary that you earn. You wouldn’t have too many student loans to pay back because the schooling you need is just an associate or bachelor’s degree. This does not take a lot of resources, compared to a master’s or a doctorate that’s needed to become a doctor.

This job field is growing. It’s projected to grow 14% by 2026. It provides job security, as people get sick and will need your help. It’s a great opportunity for someone who is interested in medicine but isn’t committed to do a lot of schooling.