Medical Laboratory Technicians

Medical laboratory technicians, also known as clinical laboratory technicians, perform routine tests in medical laboratories. These tests help physicians and other professional medical personnel diagnose and treat disease. Technicians prepare samples of body tissue; perform laboratory tests, such as urinalysis and blood counts; and make chemical and biological analyses of cells, tissue, blood, or other body specimens. They usually work under the supervision of a medical technologist or a laboratory director. Medical laboratory technicians may work in many fields, or specialize in one specific medical area, such as cytology (the study of cells), hematology (the study of blood, especially on the cellular level), serology (the study and identification of antibodies found in the blood), or histology (the study of body tissue). There are approximately 331,700 medical and clinical laboratory technicians employed in the United States.

Salary Range

Below $25,000 to $100,000

Minimum Education Level

High School Diploma

Certification/License

Required

Outlook

Much Faster than the Average

Personality Traits

Hands On

Scientific

Technical

Career Ladder

Medical Technologist

Supervisor

Medical Laboratory Technician

Assistant Medical Laboratory Technician