What is the average Medical Lab Technician salary in the US?

The national median Medical Lab Technician salary is $56,000 per year. Entry-level positions start around $42,000, while senior professionals earn $90,000 or more.

Which city pays Medical Lab Technicians the most?

San Francisco offers the highest median Medical Lab Technician salary at $78K per year among the cities we track. However, high-cost cities like San Francisco and New York often have lower purchasing power once cost of living is factored in.

How fast are Medical Lab Technician salaries growing?

Medical Lab Technician salaries are growing at 3.2% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

Healthcare5% remote-eligible+3.2% YoY growth

Medical Lab Technician Salary
by City (2026)

Perform laboratory tests on blood, tissue, and other body fluids to help diagnose diseases. National median: $56K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$56K

Top 10% earn

$90K

Entry level

$42K

Salary growth

+3.2%/yr

Medical Lab Technician salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$59K	$78K	$101K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$57K	$76K	$97K	210	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$55K	$73K	$94K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$55K	$73K	$94K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$55K	$73K	$94K	152	8.5%
Los Angeles, CA	$53K	$70K	$90K	163	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$53K	$70K	$90K	162	10.75%
San Diego, CA	$51K	$68K	$88K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$51K	$68K	$88K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$51K	$68K	$88K	155	10.75%
Arlington, VA	$50K	$67K	$86K	148	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$50K	$67K	$86K	192	11%
Long Beach, CA	$50K	$66K	$85K	155	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$50K	$66K	$85K	120	5%
Baltimore, MD	$50K	$66K	$85K	115	5.75%
Anchorage, AK	$50K	$66K	$85K	128	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$48K	$64K	$83K	128	9.3%
Philadelphia, PA	$48K	$64K	$83K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$48K	$64K	$83K	130	9.9%
Chicago, IL	$47K	$63K	$81K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$47K	$63K	$81K	118	4.55%
Hartford, CT	$47K	$63K	$81K	118	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$46K	$62K	$79K	96	None ✓
Miami, FL	$46K	$62K	$79K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$46K	$62K	$79K	128	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$46K	$62K	$79K	106	6.8%
Houston, TX	$45K	$60K	$78K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$45K	$60K	$78K	105	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$45K	$60K	$78K	99	5.75%
Durham, NC	$45K	$60K	$78K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$45K	$60K	$78K	102	None ✓
St. Paul, MN	$45K	$60K	$78K	104	6.8%
Austin, TX	$44K	$59K	$76K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$44K	$59K	$76K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$44K	$59K	$76K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$44K	$59K	$76K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$44K	$59K	$76K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$44K	$59K	$76K	118	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$45K	$59K	$76K	112	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$44K	$59K	$76K	102	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$44K	$59K	$76K	90	3.07%
Salt Lake City, UT	$44K	$59K	$76K	105	4.85%
San Antonio, TX	$43K	$57K	$73K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$43K	$57K	$73K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$43K	$57K	$73K	91	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$43K	$57K	$73K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$43K	$57K	$73K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$43K	$57K	$73K	100	4.75%
Amarillo, TX	$42K	$56K	$72K	82	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$42K	$56K	$72K	90	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$42K	$56K	$72K	118	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$42K	$56K	$72K	75	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$42K	$56K	$72K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$42K	$56K	$72K	88	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$42K	$56K	$72K	80	None ✓
Midland, TX	$42K	$56K	$72K	92	None ✓
Waco, TX	$42K	$56K	$72K	82	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$42K	$56K	$72K	78	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$42K	$56K	$72K	85	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$42K	$56K	$72K	108	None ✓
Denton, TX	$42K	$56K	$72K	100	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$42K	$56K	$72K	85	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$42K	$56K	$72K	102	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$42K	$56K	$72K	85	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$42K	$56K	$72K	95	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$42K	$56K	$72K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$42K	$56K	$72K	150	9.3%
Riverside, CA	$42K	$56K	$72K	118	9.3%
Stockton, CA	$42K	$56K	$72K	105	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$42K	$56K	$72K	138	9.3%
Irvine, CA	$42K	$56K	$72K	172	9.3%
San Bernardino, CA	$42K	$56K	$72K	100	9.3%
New York City, NY	$42K	$56K	$72K	187	6.85%
Yonkers, NY	$42K	$56K	$72K	165	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$42K	$56K	$72K	88	6.85%
Albany, NY	$42K	$56K	$72K	98	6.85%
Orlando, FL	$42K	$56K	$72K	100	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$42K	$56K	$72K	115	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$42K	$56K	$72K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$42K	$56K	$72K	100	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$42K	$56K	$72K	90	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$42K	$56K	$72K	112	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$42K	$56K	$72K	115	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$42K	$56K	$72K	88	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$42K	$56K	$72K	95	4.95%
Joliet, IL	$42K	$56K	$72K	90	4.95%
Naperville, IL	$42K	$56K	$72K	118	4.95%
Rockford, IL	$42K	$56K	$72K	80	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$42K	$56K	$72K	118	None ✓
Bellevue, WA	$42K	$56K	$72K	175	None ✓
Kirkland, WA	$42K	$56K	$72K	162	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$42K	$56K	$72K	105	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$42K	$56K	$72K	95	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$42K	$56K	$72K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$42K	$56K	$72K	108	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$42K	$56K	$72K	100	2.5%
Fort Collins, CO	$42K	$56K	$72K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$42K	$56K	$72K	115	4.55%
Thornton, CO	$42K	$56K	$72K	108	4.55%
Pueblo, CO	$42K	$56K	$72K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$42K	$56K	$72K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$42K	$56K	$72K	82	5.75%
Athens, GA	$42K	$56K	$72K	92	5.75%
Macon, GA	$42K	$56K	$72K	80	5.75%
Springfield, MA	$42K	$56K	$72K	105	5%
Cambridge, MA	$42K	$56K	$72K	185	5%
Lowell, MA	$42K	$56K	$72K	118	5%
Greensboro, NC	$42K	$56K	$72K	88	4.75%
Winston-Salem, NC	$42K	$56K	$72K	85	4.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$42K	$56K	$72K	82	4.75%
Cary, NC	$42K	$56K	$72K	112	4.75%
Norfolk, VA	$42K	$56K	$72K	95	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$42K	$56K	$72K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$42K	$56K	$72K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$42K	$56K	$72K	95	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$42K	$56K	$72K	145	5.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$42K	$56K	$72K	88	None ✓
Clarksville, TN	$42K	$56K	$72K	82	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$42K	$56K	$72K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$42K	$56K	$72K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$42K	$56K	$72K	80	3.99%
Warren, MI	$42K	$56K	$72K	85	4.25%
Sterling Heights, MI	$42K	$56K	$72K	90	4.25%
Ann Arbor, MI	$42K	$56K	$72K	115	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$42K	$56K	$72K	85	4.25%
Allentown, PA	$42K	$56K	$72K	95	3.07%
Erie, PA	$42K	$56K	$72K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$42K	$56K	$72K	80	5.3%
Independence, MO	$42K	$56K	$72K	85	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$42K	$56K	$72K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$42K	$56K	$72K	78	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$42K	$56K	$72K	82	3.23%
Madison, WI	$42K	$56K	$72K	102	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$42K	$56K	$72K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$42K	$56K	$72K	90	5.3%
Rochester, MN	$42K	$56K	$72K	100	6.8%
Duluth, MN	$42K	$56K	$72K	92	6.8%
Salem, OR	$42K	$56K	$72K	105	9.9%
Eugene, OR	$42K	$56K	$72K	110	9.9%
Gresham, OR	$42K	$56K	$72K	118	9.9%
Las Vegas, NV	$42K	$56K	$72K	102	None ✓
Henderson, NV	$42K	$56K	$72K	105	None ✓
Reno, NV	$42K	$56K	$72K	108	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$42K	$56K	$72K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$42K	$56K	$72K	98	4.85%
Provo, UT	$42K	$56K	$72K	100	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$42K	$56K	$72K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$42K	$56K	$72K	98	4.85%
Lexington, KY	$42K	$56K	$72K	88	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$42K	$56K	$72K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$42K	$56K	$72K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$42K	$56K	$72K	82	5%
North Charleston, SC	$42K	$56K	$72K	95	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$42K	$56K	$72K	92	6.5%
Norman, OK	$42K	$56K	$72K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$42K	$56K	$72K	82	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$42K	$56K	$72K	78	6%
Lafayette, LA	$42K	$56K	$72K	85	6%
Frederick, MD	$42K	$56K	$72K	115	5.75%
Rockville, MD	$42K	$56K	$72K	148	5.75%
Paterson, NJ	$42K	$56K	$72K	140	10.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$42K	$56K	$72K	145	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$42K	$56K	$72K	138	10.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$42K	$56K	$72K	118	6.99%
New Haven, CT	$42K	$56K	$72K	122	6.99%
Stamford, CT	$42K	$56K	$72K	158	6.99%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$42K	$56K	$72K	85	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$42K	$56K	$72K	82	4.82%
Overland Park, KS	$42K	$56K	$72K	100	5.7%
Kansas City, KS	$42K	$56K	$72K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$42K	$56K	$72K	85	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$42K	$56K	$72K	80	5.9%
Rio Rancho, NM	$42K	$56K	$72K	85	5.9%
Boise, ID	$42K	$56K	$72K	108	5.8%
Meridian, ID	$42K	$56K	$72K	105	5.8%
Nampa, ID	$42K	$56K	$72K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$42K	$56K	$72K	98	6.75%
Missoula, MT	$42K	$56K	$72K	102	6.75%
Great Falls, MT	$42K	$56K	$72K	88	6.75%
Cheyenne, WY	$42K	$56K	$72K	92	None ✓
Casper, WY	$42K	$56K	$72K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$42K	$56K	$72K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$42K	$56K	$72K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$42K	$56K	$72K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$42K	$56K	$72K	88	None ✓
Jackson, MS	$42K	$56K	$72K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$42K	$56K	$72K	80	5%
Fort Smith, AR	$42K	$56K	$72K	75	4.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$42K	$56K	$72K	85	4.9%
Charleston, WV	$42K	$56K	$72K	78	6.5%
Huntington, WV	$42K	$56K	$72K	75	6.5%
Portland, ME	$42K	$56K	$72K	115	7.15%
Lewiston, ME	$42K	$56K	$72K	98	7.15%
Manchester, NH	$42K	$56K	$72K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$42K	$56K	$72K	120	None ✓
Concord, NH	$42K	$56K	$72K	115	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$42K	$56K	$72K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$42K	$56K	$72K	118	5.99%
Warwick, RI	$42K	$56K	$72K	115	5.99%
Wilmington, DE	$42K	$56K	$72K	108	6.6%
Dover, DE	$42K	$56K	$72K	100	6.6%
Pearl City, HI	$42K	$56K	$72K	185	11%
Hilo, HI	$42K	$56K	$72K	155	11%
Fairbanks, AK	$42K	$56K	$72K	138	None ✓
Bethesda, MD	$42K	$56K	$72K	165	5.75%
Fresno, CA	$41K	$55K	$71K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$41K	$55K	$71K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$41K	$55K	$71K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$41K	$55K	$71K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$41K	$55K	$71K	98	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$41K	$55K	$71K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$41K	$55K	$71K	90	3.99%
Milwaukee, WI	$41K	$55K	$71K	90	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$41K	$55K	$71K	105	6.5%
Spokane, WA	$40K	$54K	$69K	95	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$40K	$54K	$69K	102	4.55%
Cincinnati, OH	$40K	$54K	$69K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$40K	$54K	$69K	82	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$40K	$54K	$69K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$40K	$54K	$69K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$40K	$54K	$69K	88	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$40K	$54K	$69K	85	5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$40K	$53K	$68K	84	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$40K	$53K	$68K	88	6.85%
Cleveland, OH	$40K	$53K	$68K	82	3.99%
Huntsville, AL	$40K	$53K	$68K	88	5%
New Orleans, LA	$40K	$53K	$68K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$40K	$53K	$68K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$40K	$53K	$68K	88	5.84%
El Paso, TX	$39K	$52K	$66K	82	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$39K	$52K	$66K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$39K	$52K	$66K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$39K	$52K	$66K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$39K	$52K	$66K	90	4.25%
Birmingham, AL	$39K	$52K	$66K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$39K	$52K	$66K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$39K	$52K	$66K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$39K	$52K	$66K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$39K	$52K	$66K	88	5.9%
Lubbock, TX	$38K	$50K	$65K	78	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$38K	$50K	$65K	85	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$38K	$50K	$65K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$38K	$50K	$65K	82	5.7%
Laredo, TX	$37K	$49K	$63K	76	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$37K	$49K	$63K	82	4.9%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $56K Medical Lab Technician salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Medical Lab Technician Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Medical Lab Technician is $56,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $42,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $72,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Medical Lab Technicians nationally earn $90,000+.

Education and requirements

Associate's or Bachelor's in Medical Lab Science; ASCP certification. This role is 5% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Medical Lab Technician compensation is growing at 3.2% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Medical Lab Technician Salaryby City (2026)