Career Opportunities
The unique scientific background that medical and clinical laboratory scientists receive in their education provides almost endless career opportunities. MLS graduates find jobs in a variety of areas including:
- Hospitals, clinics, and reference laboratories
- Specialty area of the laboratory (e.g. microbiology, hematology, chemistry, blood bank, toxicology ..etc.)
- Sales representative in lab industries
- Academic medical centers/research
- Laboratory information systems
- Colleges and Universities
- Veterinary laboratories
-
Forensic laboratories
Additionally, a degree in medical laboratory science (MLS) can create several career opportunities. MLS graduates have an excellent background for career advancement in medicine, dentistry, physician associate or pathology assistant, public health, research, and marketing
Average salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic, the 2021 median annual wages of medical and clinical laboratory technologists were $57,800. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. The middle 50 percent earned between $44,560 and $63,420. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,450, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $83,700.
Employment projections
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic, employment of medical laboratory scientists (formerly known as clinical lab technologists) is projected to grow 11% from 2021 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. Likewise, the Bureau of Health Workforce of the U.S. Health Department projects a substantial increase in demand/growth for medical or clinical laboratory scientists between 2016 and 2030 by 19%.
