Did you know the average Medical laboratory technician highest salary can be up to $61,000 per year? While this job averages two different tiers of compensation, you will also be eligible for overtime pay. You can find this information in our medical laboratory technician highest salary guide. Learn how you can increase your career as a medical lab technician.
Medical laboratory technicians perform tests on body fluids, cells, tissues and organs. They use their knowledge of the human body to help doctors diagnose and treat patients.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical laboratory technicians earned an average annual wage of $59,530 in May 2016. The highest-paid 10 percent earned at least $81,770 per year and the lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $41,870 annually.
The best-paying industries for medical lab techs were general medical and surgical hospitals; outpatient care centers; medical laboratories; colleges, universities and professional schools; diagnostic laboratories; and research and development in the physical sciences.
The top-paying states for medical lab techs were California ($87,420); Massachusetts ($85,150); New Jersey ($82,210); Colorado ($81,160); Connecticut ($81,070); Alaska ($80,600); Washington ($78,640) and Oregon ($77,820).
Medical laboratory technician highest salary
Introduction
A medical laboratory technician, or MLT, is a vital member of the healthcare team. In fact, nearly 70% of all healthcare decisions are based on information generated by MLTs. You will have the opportunity to save lives every day as you collect, test and examine patient samples for abnormalities.
The highest salary for a clinical laboratory technician is $57,127, with the average salary being $49,734.
The highest salary for a clinical laboratory technician is $57,127. The average salary is $49,734. The lowest salary for this position is $35,257 and the median salary sits at $45,000 annually. The range of salaries for clinical laboratory technicians reported by Payscale ranges from $33k to $78k annually.
Clinical laboratory technicians are professionals who work to identify and diagnose various pathogens that can cause illness or disease.
Clinical laboratory technicians work in hospitals and clinical laboratories, where they are responsible for the testing of blood, tissue and other samples. They are often the first to know if a patient has a disease or infection. Once a lab technician identifies a pathogen, he or she then determines what type of test should be run to identify it. While some tests can identify more than one disease at once, other tests must be run individually for each specific diagnosis.
When working in healthcare environments, lab technicians must follow strict protocols to ensure accuracy of their results. This includes using sterile equipment when drawing blood from patients and following regulations regarding contamination control. In addition, they must maintain strict documentation regarding each sample that comes into their possession as well as any special treatment it may require (such as refrigeration).
The vast majority of clinical laboratory technicians will find employment in hospitals and medical laboratories.
The vast majority of clinical laboratory technicians will find employment in hospitals and medical laboratories. Some work in research organizations, government agencies, pharmaceutical companies or veterinary hospitals.
- Research organizations: These include universities, non-profit research foundations and other institutions that perform basic or applied research. Clinical laboratory technicians employed by these organizations may be involved with studies involving human subjects; this type of work requires an additional certification known as the Certificate of Clinical Laboratory Technician (CCL).
- Government agencies: Jobs such as those found within state health departments are generally categorized under “clinical laboratory technician” on job boards because they require training similar to that typically offered through a medical assistant program at a community college or vocational school (see “How to Become a Medical Assistant”).
- Pharmaceutical companies: While there are no specific educational prerequisites for this type of employment, applicants should possess a high school diploma or its equivalent along with some knowledge of chemistry and biology. To qualify for entry-level positions within this industry, candidates must complete an internship program lasting between 12 weeks and two years depending on their specialty area; more experienced professionals might not need an internship at all if they have previous experience handling lab equipment such as automated analyzers used for identifying viruses in human blood samples before processing them into vaccines against infectious diseases like influenza pandemics; once hired by one company in particular—Merck & Co., Inc.—it’s possible for employees from different departments within that organization’s parent company
A clinical laboratory technician can also be known as a medical lab technician, a med lab tech, or an MLT.
When you think of a medical laboratory technician, what comes to mind? Maybe the abbreviation MLT. Maybe you picture someone with a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science or biotechnology and maybe even some post-baccalaureate education. But did you know that the term MLT is actually more general than most people think it is?
MLT stands for “Medical Laboratory Technician” and refers to anyone who performs any kind of clinical or diagnostic lab testing in a medical setting. It can be used as both an abbreviation and as a full job title:
- John Doe, MLS(ASCP) –> John Doe, Medical Laboratory Scientist (Associate Certified)
- Mary Smith, MT(ASCP) –> Mary Smith, Medical Technologist (Certified Assistant)
Many different employers will hire a clinical laboratory technician, including research organizations.
- Research organizations such as pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and universities.
- Hospitals and clinical laboratories.
- Private practice clinics.
Salary is generally contingent on experience, but educational level and location are also factors.
A person’s salary, in this field, is generally contingent on experience. However, educational level and location are also factors (and they might be more important than experience).
The most important factor in determining a salaried medical laboratory technician’s salary is his or her level of experience. Each year of work adds to the overall value of your resume; after five years as a medical laboratory technician you will likely earn more than someone who has been working for only two or three years.
But education is also an important factor in determining how much you earn as a professional medical laboratory technician: if you have an associate degree from a two-year program that caters specifically to this profession then your annual income will be higher than that which would be earned by someone with only certification from a one-year certificate program. In some cases though, having specialized knowledge and skills can lead to higher pay even without formal education; for instance there may be certain tests (such as DNA testing) performed at certain facilities which require additional training and certification beyond standard requirements for all types of tests run by those facilities’ staff members – if these extra requirements were met successfully then it could mean earning more money per hour worked because some jobs within the same company might pay less due simply because it wasn’t expected that everyone there had such training already under their belts already.”
Job security for this position is strong; the Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that the need for these professionals will increase by 13 percent between 2014 and 2024.
The job market for clinical laboratory technicians is expected to grow faster than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that the need for these professionals will increase by 13 percent between 2014 and 2024. This is a very fast-growing field, and it can be lucrative as well.
This field is growing faster than most occupations and offers a good salary with job security.
This field is growing faster than most occupations and offers a good salary with job security.
There are several reasons why this is the case:
- There’s the need to support the increased number of people with chronic diseases.
- The aging population requires more medical services, like assisted living facilities and hospice care.
- The increasing cost of medical care increases demand for technicians to conduct tests, take vital signs, perform blood draws and administer medications.
These factors indicate that there will be high demand for lab techs in all types of healthcare settings, from hospitals to private labs and clinics where nurses are needed to assist them.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a career with high pay, stability, and growth potential, consider becoming a medical laboratory technician.
