Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians: Career Profile
Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.
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What Tasks Do Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians Perform?
Typical responsibilities of medical and clinical laboratory technicians include:
- 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.
- Analyze the results of tests or experiments to ensure conformity to specifications, using special mechanical or electrical devices.
- Set up, maintain, calibrate, clean, and test sterility of medical laboratory equipment.
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective medical and clinical laboratory technicians rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Biotechnician
- Blood Bank Laboratory Technician
- Blood Typer
- Blood and Plasma Laboratory Assistant
- Blood or Blood Bank Technician
- Catheterization Laboratory Technician (Catheterization Lab Tech)
- Certified Clinical Laboratory Technician
- Certified Dialysis Technician
Job Outlook
There are roughly 1,379,632 medical and clinical laboratory technicians working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +12.4% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $155,908 |
| Hourly median | $74.96 |
| 10th percentile | $91,233 |
| 25th percentile | $123,571 |
| 75th percentile | $188,246 |
| 90th percentile | $220,583 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Tech Stack
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of medical and clinical laboratory technicians reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Telephone Conversations
Education and Training
Typical medical and clinical laboratory technicians positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Microbiologists (Supplemental)
- Biological Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Chemical Technicians (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Supplemental)
- Physicians, Pathologists (Supplemental)
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists (Primary-Short)
- Cytogenetic Technologists (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Aspiring medical and clinical laboratory technicians typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
7 programs across 2 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-2012.00 (Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians).
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