Medical Laboratory Scientists analyze samples of biological specimens and report the results to healthcare professionals. Based on the outcome of these scientific tests, doctors are better able to conclude their diagnoses and decide on appropriate treatment.
As a medical laboratory scientist, you might specialize in many different areas, such as toxicology, immunology, hematology, and transfusion medicine, and the list continues. Whatever specialization you choose, your daily tasks will most likely include testing body fluids, tissues, and cells using high-precision lab equipment.
You will spend your days in a lab, supervising medical lab technicians. Your efforts will contribute to monitoring diseases and medical conditions, the effects of treatment, and medicine use. There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a Medical Laboratory Scientist. medical laboratory scientists make an average of $24.51 an hour, which is $50,985 a year.
When it comes to the most important skills required to be a Medical Laboratory Scientist, we found that a lot of resumes listed 13.5% of Medical Laboratory Scientists included Laboratory Equipment, while 11.9% of resumes included Ascp, and 10.0% of resumes included Technologist. Hard skills like these are helpful to have when it comes to performing essential job responsibilities.
If you’re interested in becoming a Medical Laboratory Scientist, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We’ve determined that 74.1% of Medical Laboratory Scientists have a bachelor’s degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 5.5% of Medical Laboratory Scientists have master’s degrees. Even though most Medical Laboratory Scientists have a college degree, it’s possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a Medical Laboratory Scientist. When we researched the most common majors for a Medical Laboratory Scientist, we found that they most commonly earn Bachelor’s Degree degrees or Associate Degree degrees. Other degrees that we often see on Medical Laboratory Scientist resumes include Master’s Degree degrees or Diploma degrees.
You may find that experience in other jobs will help you become a Medical Laboratory Scientist. In fact, many Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs require experience in a role such as Medical Laboratory Technician. Meanwhile, many Medical Laboratory Scientists also have previous career experience in roles such as Medical Technologist or Medical Laboratory Technologist Internship.
Also Read: Clinical laboratory scientist salary with master’s degree, is a master in medical laboratory science worth it, masters in clinical laboratory science, entry-level medical laboratory scientist salary, medical laboratory scientist salary per hour, medical laboratory scientist salary in Philippines.
Clinical laboratory scientist salary with master’s degree
Medical Laboratory Scientists in America make an average salary of $50,985 per year or $25 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $63,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $40,000 per year.
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a Medical Laboratory Scientist. The best states for people in this position are Alaska, Oregon, Nevada, and Washington. Medical Laboratory Scientists make the most in Alaska with an average salary of $75,183. Whereas in Oregon and Nevada, they would average $71,597 and $70,911, respectively. While Medical Laboratory Scientists would only make an average of $68,895 in Washington, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
Med lab scientists make around $54,000 a year or about $26 per hour. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, on the higher end of the salary range, they can earn more than $83,700.
Some might earn less and get paid around or under $31,450, although this is probably due to entry-level positions or other factors. As most jobs go, location, industry, and experience can affect salary.
For example, those working in outpatient care centers earn around $57,640 yearly compared to those who work in offices of physicians, earning around $48,260.
In general, the top-paying industries have to do with wholesale electronic markets and agents and brokers and professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers.
Some of the top-paying states are Connecticut, New York, and Oregon, offering above $65,000 in annual mean wages. Specific cities and metropolitan areas can offer high pay, such as Carson City in Nevada with an annual mean wage of $78,340 or the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande area of California with $77,390.
Clinical laboratory technician salary in Georgia
A medical laboratory technologist analyzes blood, tissue, and body fluid samples in search for microorganisms like parasites or bacteria. They also determine blood type, drug levels, cell count, and chemical content.
These technologists perform numerous complicated tests using specialized instrumentation and automated equipment. They are highly trained professionals that collaborate with doctors or laboratory directors on patient data after the test results are analyzed and completed.
Difference between a technologist and a technician:
– A four-year degree is needed to become a medical laboratory technologist.
– A two-year degree (or certificate) is required to work as a medical laboratory technician.
What does a Medical Laboratory Technologist do?
A medical laboratory technologist will perform a full range of laboratory tests, from simple blood tests, to more complex tests that will reveal diseases such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, and diabetes. They work in all areas of the laboratory including immunology, microbiology, histology, hematology, chemistry, and blood banking.
Clinical laboratory technologists calibrate and operate complex equipment, precision instruments, and computers. They are responsible for the accuracy of test results, therefore the results and information that the laboratory technologist gives to the physician influences the medical treatment a patient will receive.
Medical laboratory technologists assist doctors and nurses in choosing the correct lab tests and ensure proper collection methods. In addition, they maintain the integrity of the laboratory process by recognizing factors that could introduce error and reject sub-standard or contaminated specimens. They will also investigate any discrepant results.
The following are some of the duties that a medical laboratory technologist may have:
- Setting up, calibrating, and sterilizing equipment
- Collecting and examining slides of bodily fluids
- Collecting and examining blood samples
- Matching blood for transfusions
- Preparing cultures of tissue samples
- Analyzing lab reports
- Looking for toxic components in blood or urine
- Monitoring for data accuracy
- Delivering test results to doctors or researchers
- Collaborating with doctors or laboratory directors on patient data
Are you suited to be a medical laboratory technologist?
Medical laboratory technologists have distinct personalities. They tend to be investigative individuals, which means they’re intellectual, introspective, and inquisitive. They are curious, methodical, rational, analytical, and logical. Some of them are also realistic, meaning they’re independent, stable, persistent, genuine, practical, and thrifty.
Medical laboratory technologists work in hospital laboratories, pharmaceutical firms, research facilities, and other lab settings. T
hey are skilled in diverse scientific disciplines, therefore employment outside of the medical laboratory is common. Many technologists are employed in government positions such as the FDA, USDA, non-medical industrial laboratories, and manufacturing.
More experienced laboratory technologists may advance by conducting research, developing new methods of analysis and supervising and training medical laboratory technicians.
Medical Laboratory Technologists are also known as:
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist Clinical Laboratory Technologist Medical Lab Tech Medical Technologist Clinical Laboratory Scientist.
Top-level medical laboratory technologist earnings begin at:
$36.90per hour
$76,756per year
Senior-level medical laboratory technologist earnings begin at:
$27.84per hour
$57,898per year
Mid-level medical laboratory technologist earnings begin at:
$22.16per hour
$46,088per year
Junior-level medical laboratory technologist earnings begin at:
$19.48per hour
$40,521per year
Starting level medical laboratory technologist earnings begin at:
$18.39per hour
$38,256per year
