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%
New York City, NY	$56K	$74K	$96K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$56K	$74K	$95K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$56K	$74K	$95K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$55K	$73K	$94K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$55K	$73K	$94K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$55K	$73K	$94K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$54K	$72K	$93K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$54K	$71K	$92K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$53K	$70K	$90K	163	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$52K	$70K	$90K	165	6.85%
Jersey City, NJ	$53K	$70K	$90K	162	10.75%
Bethesda, MD	$52K	$70K	$90K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$52K	$69K	$89K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$51K	$69K	$88K	158	6.99%
San Diego, CA	$51K	$68K	$88K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$51K	$68K	$88K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$51K	$68K	$88K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$51K	$68K	$87K	155	11%
Anaheim, CA	$50K	$67K	$86K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$50K	$67K	$86K	150	9.3%
Arlington, VA	$50K	$67K	$86K	148	5.75%
Rockville, MD	$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%
Alexandria, VA	$49K	$66K	$85K	145	5.75%
Baltimore, MD	$50K	$66K	$85K	115	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$49K	$66K	$85K	145	10.75%
Anchorage, AK	$50K	$66K	$85K	128	None ✓
Chula Vista, CA	$48K	$65K	$83K	138	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$49K	$65K	$83K	140	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$48K	$65K	$83K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$48K	$65K	$83K	138	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%
New Haven, CT	$46K	$61K	$79K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$46K	$61K	$78K	120	None ✓
Houston, TX	$45K	$60K	$78K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$45K	$60K	$78K	105	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$45K	$60K	$78K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$45K	$60K	$78K	118	9.3%
Hialeah, FL	$45K	$60K	$77K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$45K	$60K	$77K	115	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$45K	$60K	$78K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$45K	$60K	$78K	118	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$45K	$60K	$77K	115	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$45K	$60K	$78K	99	5.75%
Lowell, MA	$45K	$60K	$78K	118	5%
Durham, NC	$45K	$60K	$78K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$45K	$60K	$78K	102	None ✓
Ann Arbor, MI	$45K	$60K	$77K	115	4.25%
St. Paul, MN	$45K	$60K	$78K	104	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$45K	$60K	$78K	118	9.9%
Frederick, MD	$45K	$60K	$77K	115	5.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$45K	$60K	$78K	118	6.99%
Portland, ME	$45K	$60K	$77K	115	7.15%
Manchester, NH	$45K	$60K	$78K	118	None ✓
Concord, NH	$45K	$60K	$77K	115	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$45K	$60K	$78K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$45K	$60K	$78K	118	5.99%
Warwick, RI	$45K	$60K	$77K	115	5.99%
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 ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$44K	$59K	$76K	112	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$44K	$59K	$76K	118	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$45K	$59K	$76K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$44K	$59K	$76K	112	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$44K	$59K	$76K	102	4.75%
Cary, NC	$44K	$59K	$76K	112	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$44K	$59K	$76K	90	3.07%
Eugene, OR	$44K	$59K	$76K	110	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$44K	$59K	$76K	105	4.85%
Round Rock, TX	$44K	$58K	$75K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$43K	$58K	$74K	105	9.3%
Gilbert, AZ	$44K	$58K	$75K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$44K	$58K	$75K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$44K	$58K	$75K	108	4.55%
Springfield, MA	$43K	$58K	$74K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$43K	$58K	$74K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$43K	$58K	$74K	105	None ✓
Boise, ID	$44K	$58K	$75K	108	5.8%
Meridian, ID	$43K	$58K	$74K	105	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$44K	$58K	$75K	108	6.6%
San Antonio, TX	$43K	$57K	$73K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$43K	$57K	$73K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$43K	$57K	$73K	91	None ✓
Denton, TX	$43K	$57K	$73K	100	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$43K	$57K	$74K	102	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$43K	$57K	$73K	100	9.3%
Tampa, FL	$43K	$57K	$73K	102	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$43K	$57K	$73K	100	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$43K	$57K	$73K	100	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$43K	$57K	$73K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$43K	$57K	$73K	100	4.75%
Rochester, MN	$43K	$57K	$73K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$43K	$57K	$73K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$43K	$57K	$73K	100	5.7%
Missoula, MT	$43K	$57K	$74K	102	6.75%
Dover, DE	$43K	$57K	$73K	100	6.6%
Bakersfield, CA	$42K	$56K	$72K	95	9.3%
Albany, NY	$42K	$56K	$73K	98	6.85%
Orlando, FL	$42K	$56K	$72K	100	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$42K	$56K	$73K	98	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$42K	$56K	$72K	95	4.95%
Chandler, AZ	$42K	$56K	$72K	105	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$42K	$56K	$72K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$42K	$56K	$72K	95	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$42K	$56K	$73K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$42K	$56K	$72K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$42K	$56K	$72K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$42K	$56K	$72K	95	3.07%
Madison, WI	$42K	$56K	$72K	102	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$42K	$56K	$72K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$42K	$56K	$72K	108	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$42K	$56K	$73K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$42K	$56K	$73K	98	4.85%
Provo, UT	$42K	$56K	$72K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$42K	$56K	$73K	98	4.85%
North Charleston, SC	$42K	$56K	$72K	95	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$42K	$56K	$73K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$42K	$56K	$73K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$42K	$56K	$73K	98	7.15%
Grand Prairie, TX	$41K	$55K	$70K	90	None ✓
Midland, TX	$41K	$55K	$71K	92	None ✓
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 ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$41K	$55K	$70K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$41K	$55K	$70K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$41K	$55K	$71K	98	2.5%
Athens, GA	$41K	$55K	$71K	92	5.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$41K	$55K	$71K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$41K	$55K	$71K	90	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$41K	$55K	$70K	90	4.25%
Milwaukee, WI	$41K	$55K	$71K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$41K	$55K	$70K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$41K	$55K	$71K	92	6.8%
Charleston, SC	$41K	$55K	$71K	105	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$41K	$55K	$71K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$41K	$55K	$71K	92	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$41K	$55K	$70K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$41K	$54K	$70K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$41K	$54K	$70K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$40K	$54K	$69K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$40K	$54K	$69K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$40K	$54K	$69K	85	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$41K	$54K	$70K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$41K	$54K	$70K	88	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$40K	$54K	$69K	95	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$40K	$54K	$69K	102	4.55%
Greensboro, NC	$41K	$54K	$70K	88	4.75%
Winston-Salem, NC	$40K	$54K	$69K	85	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$41K	$54K	$70K	88	None ✓
Cincinnati, OH	$40K	$54K	$69K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$40K	$54K	$69K	82	4.25%
Warren, MI	$40K	$54K	$69K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$40K	$54K	$69K	85	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$40K	$54K	$69K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$40K	$54K	$69K	86	5.3%
Independence, MO	$40K	$54K	$69K	85	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$40K	$54K	$69K	88	3.23%
Green Bay, WI	$41K	$54K	$70K	88	5.3%
Louisville, KY	$40K	$54K	$69K	85	5%
Lexington, KY	$41K	$54K	$70K	88	5%
Lafayette, LA	$40K	$54K	$69K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$40K	$54K	$69K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$40K	$54K	$69K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$40K	$54K	$69K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$40K	$54K	$69K	85	5.9%
Great Falls, MT	$41K	$54K	$70K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$41K	$54K	$70K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$41K	$54K	$70K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$41K	$54K	$70K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$41K	$54K	$70K	88	None ✓
Fayetteville, AR	$40K	$54K	$69K	85	4.9%
Corpus Christi, TX	$40K	$53K	$68K	84	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$40K	$53K	$68K	82	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$40K	$53K	$68K	80	None ✓
Waco, TX	$40K	$53K	$68K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$40K	$53K	$68K	88	6.85%
Rockford, IL	$40K	$53K	$68K	80	4.95%
Pueblo, CO	$40K	$53K	$68K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$40K	$53K	$68K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$40K	$53K	$68K	82	5.75%
Macon, GA	$40K	$53K	$68K	80	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$40K	$53K	$68K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$40K	$53K	$68K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$40K	$53K	$68K	82	3.99%
Akron, OH	$40K	$53K	$68K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$40K	$53K	$68K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$40K	$53K	$68K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$40K	$53K	$68K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$40K	$53K	$68K	80	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$40K	$53K	$68K	82	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$40K	$53K	$68K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$40K	$53K	$68K	80	5%
Huntsville, AL	$40K	$53K	$68K	88	5%
Mobile, AL	$40K	$53K	$68K	82	5%
Norman, OK	$40K	$53K	$68K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$40K	$53K	$68K	82	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$40K	$53K	$68K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$40K	$53K	$68K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$40K	$53K	$68K	82	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$40K	$53K	$68K	88	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$40K	$53K	$68K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$40K	$53K	$68K	80	5%
El Paso, TX	$39K	$52K	$66K	82	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$39K	$52K	$67K	75	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$39K	$52K	$67K	78	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$39K	$52K	$66K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$39K	$52K	$66K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$39K	$52K	$66K	82	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$39K	$52K	$67K	78	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$39K	$52K	$66K	90	4.25%
Evansville, IN	$39K	$52K	$67K	78	3.23%
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%
Shreveport, LA	$39K	$52K	$67K	78	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$39K	$52K	$66K	88	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$39K	$52K	$67K	78	5%
Fort Smith, AR	$39K	$52K	$67K	75	4.9%
Charleston, WV	$39K	$52K	$67K	78	6.5%
Huntington, WV	$39K	$52K	$67K	75	6.5%
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 salary FAQ

How much does a Medical Lab Technician make?

The median Medical Lab Technician salary in the US is $56,000 per year — about $27/hour. Most earn between $42,000 (25th percentile) and $72,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Medical Lab Technician?

Entry-level Medical Lab Technician positions typically start around $42,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Medical Lab Technicians earn?

The top 10% of Medical Lab Technicians earn $90,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Medical Lab Technicians the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Medical Lab Technician salary at $78K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Medical Lab Technician salaries going up?

Yes — Medical Lab Technician pay is growing about 3.2% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Medical Lab Technician Salaryby City (2026)