Best states for a clinical laboratory scientist

Q: What is the best state for clinical laboratory scientists?

The best state to be a clinical laboratory scientist is Oregon based on clinical laboratory scientist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for clinical laboratory scientists?

The highest paying state for clinical laboratory scientists is South Dakota based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for clinical laboratory scientists?

The worst state for clinical laboratory scientists is Minnesota, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Dr. Diane Wilson Ph.D.

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Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to clinical laboratory scientist jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. Although there are abundant clinical laboratory scientist jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the Midwest. Oregon is the best state in the country for clinical laboratory scientist jobs.

The median salary for clinical laboratory scientists in Oregon is $74,740. Compare that to the median salary in Minnesota of $44,234, which ranked worst for clinical laboratory scientists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the Midwest is best for clinical laboratory scientists, and the Northeast is the worst. Santa Rosa, CA is the best city in the country for clinical laboratory scientist jobs, where as Oregon is the best state in the country.

10 best states for clinical laboratory scientists in 2026

1. Oregon
Total clinical laboratory scientist jobs: 1,000
Average annual salary: $74,740
Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000
Location Quotient:
1.04
Clinical laboratory scientist jobs in Oregon
2. Arizona
Total clinical laboratory scientist jobs: 1,577
Average annual salary: $66,317
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000
Location Quotient:
1.16
Clinical laboratory scientist jobs in Arizona
3. Pennsylvania
Total clinical laboratory scientist jobs: 2,972
Average annual salary: $62,962
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000
Location Quotient:
1.1
Clinical laboratory scientist jobs in Pennsylvania
4. Washington
Total clinical laboratory scientist jobs: 1,807
Average annual salary: $67,141
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000
Location Quotient:
1.07
Clinical laboratory scientist jobs in Washington
5. Alaska
Total clinical laboratory scientist jobs: 172
Average annual salary: $79,112
Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000
Location Quotient:
0.89
Clinical laboratory scientist jobs in Alaska
6. West Virginia
Total clinical laboratory scientist jobs: 447
Average annual salary: $59,585
Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Location Quotient:
1.26
Clinical laboratory scientist jobs in West Virginia
7. Nevada
Total clinical laboratory scientist jobs: 399
Average annual salary: $75,473
Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000
Location Quotient:
0.82
Clinical laboratory scientist jobs in Nevada
8. New Jersey
Total clinical laboratory scientist jobs: 2,461
Average annual salary: $63,196
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000
Location Quotient:
1.34
Clinical laboratory scientist jobs in New Jersey
9. Hawaii
Total clinical laboratory scientist jobs: 235
Average annual salary: $71,461
Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000
Location Quotient:
1.21
Clinical laboratory scientist jobs in Hawaii
10. Maine
Total clinical laboratory scientist jobs: 455
Average annual salary: $59,369
Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Location Quotient:
1.48
Clinical laboratory scientist jobs in Maine

Clinical laboratory scientist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a clinical laboratory scientist

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a clinical laboratory scientist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Oregon	$74,740	$50,000	4,142,776	1,000
2	Arizona	$66,317	$46,000	7,016,270	1,577
3	Pennsylvania	$62,962	$46,000	12,805,537	2,972
4	Washington	$67,141	$46,000	7,405,743	1,807
5	Alaska	$79,112	$68,000	739,795	172
6	West Virginia	$59,585	$44,000	1,815,857	447
7	Nevada	$75,473	$50,000	2,998,039	399
8	New Jersey	$63,196	$46,000	9,005,644	2,461
9	Hawaii	$71,461	$56,000	1,427,538	235
10	Maine	$59,369	$44,000	1,335,907	455
11	New York	$63,458	$46,000	19,849,399	4,029
12	Rhode Island	$60,029	$44,000	1,059,639	326
13	California	$76,206	$50,000	39,536,653	4,409
14	North Carolina	$59,814	$45,000	10,273,419	2,281
15	Delaware	$60,309	$44,000	961,939	341
16	New Hampshire	$61,026	$45,000	1,342,795	406
17	Vermont	$59,056	$44,000	623,657	238
18	Idaho	$61,464	$43,000	1,716,943	369
19	Connecticut	$60,057	$44,000	3,588,184	1,084
20	Utah	$60,955	$43,000	3,101,833	731
21	Massachusetts	$62,788	$46,000	6,859,819	1,543
22	Texas	$58,232	$44,000	28,304,596	4,308
23	Maryland	$58,906	$43,000	6,052,177	1,859
24	Alabama	$57,381	$44,000	4,874,747	855
25	Michigan	$55,984	$43,000	9,962,311	1,732
26	Virginia	$58,913	$43,000	8,470,020	2,336
27	District of Columbia	$65,147	$48,000	693,972	329
28	Florida	$55,703	$42,000	20,984,400	5,140
29	Ohio	$55,304	$42,000	11,658,609	2,167
30	Georgia	$56,008	$43,000	10,429,379	2,222
31	Wisconsin	$53,141	$42,000	5,795,483	1,498
32	Tennessee	$53,903	$41,000	6,715,984	1,345
33	Indiana	$53,743	$41,000	6,666,818	1,507
34	Kansas	$53,867	$43,000	2,913,123	624
35	Arkansas	$53,531	$42,000	3,004,279	546
36	South Carolina	$55,715	$42,000	5,024,369	875
37	Iowa	$52,383	$42,000	3,145,711	843
38	Colorado	$54,183	$43,000	5,607,154	1,318
39	Kentucky	$53,828	$41,000	4,454,189	691
40	Illinois	$52,123	$41,000	12,802,023	2,866
41	Nebraska	$52,964	$43,000	1,920,076	404
42	Wyoming	$51,487	$41,000	579,315	139
43	Mississippi	$52,735	$41,000	2,984,100	356
44	Missouri	$51,711	$41,000	6,113,532	1,224
45	New Mexico	$51,961	$38,000	2,088,070	391
46	Montana	$48,375	$39,000	1,050,493	272
47	Oklahoma	$51,906	$41,000	3,930,864	545
48	North Dakota	$44,245	$37,000	755,393	235
49	South Dakota	$44,214	$36,000	869,666	260
50	Louisiana	$49,788	$38,000	4,684,333	702
51	Minnesota	$44,234	$36,000	5,576,606	1,402

Highest paying states for clinical laboratory scientists

Rank	State	Avg. Clinical Laboratory Scientist Salary
1	Oregon	$74,740
2	Arizona	$66,317
3	Pennsylvania	$62,962
4	Washington	$67,141
5	Alaska	$79,112
6	West Virginia	$59,585
7	Nevada	$75,473
8	New Jersey	$63,196
9	Hawaii	$71,461
10	Maine	$59,369
11	New York	$63,458
12	Rhode Island	$60,029
13	California	$76,206
14	North Carolina	$59,814
15	Delaware	$60,309
16	New Hampshire	$61,026
17	Vermont	$59,056
18	Idaho	$61,464
19	Connecticut	$60,057
20	Utah	$60,955
21	Massachusetts	$62,788
22	Texas	$58,232
23	Maryland	$58,906
24	Alabama	$57,381
25	Michigan	$55,984
26	Virginia	$58,913
27	District of Columbia	$65,147
28	Florida	$55,703
29	Ohio	$55,304
30	Georgia	$56,008
31	Wisconsin	$53,141
32	Tennessee	$53,903
33	Indiana	$53,743
34	Kansas	$53,867
35	Arkansas	$53,531
36	South Carolina	$55,715
37	Iowa	$52,383
38	Colorado	$54,183
39	Kentucky	$53,828
40	Illinois	$52,123
41	Nebraska	$52,964
42	Wyoming	$51,487
43	Mississippi	$52,735
44	Missouri	$51,711
45	New Mexico	$51,961
46	Montana	$48,375
47	Oklahoma	$51,906
48	North Dakota	$44,245
49	South Dakota	$44,214
50	Louisiana	$49,788
51	Minnesota	$44,234

Expert opinions on the best states for clinical laboratory scientists

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for clinical laboratory scientists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Diane Wilson Ph.D.
Medical Laboratory Science Program Director and Associate Professor, Morgan State University
There are numerous employment opportunities and experiences nationwide. Increased laboratory testing due to the pandemic has increased the demand for Medical Laboratory Scientists nationally.
Many of the graduates receive numerous job offers from all areas of the country.

Clinical laboratory scientist best states FAQs

What is the best state for clinical laboratory scientists?

What is the highest paying state for clinical laboratory scientists?

What is the worst state for clinical laboratory scientists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.

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Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Best states for Clinical Laboratory Scientists

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total clinical laboratory scientist jobs:	1,000
Average annual salary:	$74,740
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$50,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$109,000
Location Quotient:	1.04

Best states for a clinical laboratory scientist

10 best states for clinical laboratory scientists in 2026

1. Oregon

2. Arizona

3. Pennsylvania

4. Washington

5. Alaska

6. West Virginia

7. Nevada

8. New Jersey

9. Hawaii

10. Maine