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Best states for a clinical laboratory technician
Quoted expert
Keith Belcher Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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It seems like clinical laboratory technicians are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for clinical laboratory technicians aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for clinical laboratory technicians. We found that Alaska is the best state in the nation for clinical laboratory technicians, and people in Fairbanks earn the most in the field.
In order to get you the best states for clinical laboratory technicians, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a clinical laboratory technician, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for clinical laboratory technicians in 2026
1. Alaska
Total clinical laboratory technician jobs: 300 Average annual salary: $76,388 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
2. Arizona
Total clinical laboratory technician jobs: 1,866 Average annual salary: $60,872 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
3. New York
Total clinical laboratory technician jobs: 4,589 Average annual salary: $58,323 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
4. Nevada
Total clinical laboratory technician jobs: 566 Average annual salary: $61,255 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
5. California
Total clinical laboratory technician jobs: 7,811 Average annual salary: $68,991 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
6. Vermont
Total clinical laboratory technician jobs: 246 Average annual salary: $56,380 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
7. Maine
Total clinical laboratory technician jobs: 535 Average annual salary: $55,151 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
8. Rhode Island
Total clinical laboratory technician jobs: 355 Average annual salary: $56,206 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
9. West Virginia
Total clinical laboratory technician jobs: 430 Average annual salary: $55,949 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
10. Louisiana
Total clinical laboratory technician jobs: 916 Average annual salary: $56,249 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
Clinical laboratory technician jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a clinical laboratory technician
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a clinical laboratory technician
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $76,388 | $66,000 | 739,795 | 300 |
| 2 | Arizona | $60,872 | $45,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,866 |
| 3 | New York | $58,323 | $41,000 | 19,849,399 | 4,589 |
| 4 | Nevada | $61,255 | $45,000 | 2,998,039 | 566 |
| 5 | California | $68,991 | $51,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,811 |
| 6 | Vermont | $56,380 | $40,000 | 623,657 | 246 |
| 7 | Maine | $55,151 | $39,000 | 1,335,907 | 535 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $56,206 | $39,000 | 1,059,639 | 355 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $55,949 | $40,000 | 1,815,857 | 430 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $56,249 | $39,000 | 4,684,333 | 916 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $58,873 | $41,000 | 1,342,795 | 445 |
| 12 | Washington | $59,832 | $47,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,986 |
| 13 | Utah | $56,485 | $42,000 | 3,101,833 | 796 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $55,267 | $38,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,576 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $52,852 | $40,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,834 |
| 16 | Oregon | $54,223 | $42,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,128 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $50,109 | $39,000 | 755,393 | 293 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $57,805 | $40,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,019 |
| 19 | Idaho | $53,737 | $41,000 | 1,716,943 | 391 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $61,079 | $52,000 | 1,427,538 | 223 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $49,300 | $36,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,522 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $51,854 | $36,000 | 3,588,184 | 952 |
| 23 | Montana | $51,118 | $40,000 | 1,050,493 | 303 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $46,856 | $33,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,533 |
| 25 | Texas | $49,038 | $35,000 | 28,304,596 | 5,500 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $46,098 | $35,000 | 869,666 | 319 |
| 27 | Delaware | $53,202 | $37,000 | 961,939 | 262 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $50,633 | $38,000 | 579,315 | 125 |
| 29 | Kansas | $47,681 | $35,000 | 2,913,123 | 806 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $44,526 | $32,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,752 |
| 31 | Colorado | $51,329 | $38,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,488 |
| 32 | Michigan | $44,864 | $32,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,408 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $56,186 | $39,000 | 693,972 | 304 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $48,478 | $36,000 | 1,920,076 | 499 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $48,973 | $35,000 | 2,088,070 | 466 |
| 36 | Iowa | $45,605 | $33,000 | 3,145,711 | 1,006 |
| 37 | Indiana | $43,244 | $31,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,911 |
| 38 | Missouri | $46,873 | $34,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,436 |
| 39 | Maryland | $47,998 | $33,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,647 |
| 40 | Florida | $38,358 | $24,000 | 20,984,400 | 5,431 |
| 41 | Ohio | $42,915 | $31,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,786 |
| 42 | Illinois | $46,777 | $34,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,939 |
| 43 | Virginia | $48,103 | $34,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,082 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $45,682 | $32,000 | 2,984,100 | 473 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $40,259 | $28,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,711 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $39,826 | $28,000 | 5,024,369 | 1,270 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $43,088 | $31,000 | 3,930,864 | 795 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $43,416 | $31,000 | 3,004,279 | 573 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $41,758 | $30,000 | 4,454,189 | 931 |
| 50 | Georgia | $42,243 | $30,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,531 |
| 51 | Alabama | $42,890 | $30,000 | 4,874,747 | 896 |
Highest paying states for clinical laboratory technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. Clinical Laboratory Technician Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $76,388 |
| 2 | Arizona | $60,872 |
| 3 | New York | $58,323 |
| 4 | Nevada | $61,255 |
| 5 | California | $68,991 |
| 6 | Vermont | $56,380 |
| 7 | Maine | $55,151 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $56,206 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $55,949 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $56,249 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $58,873 |
| 12 | Washington | $59,832 |
| 13 | Utah | $56,485 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $55,267 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $52,852 |
| 16 | Oregon | $54,223 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $50,109 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $57,805 |
| 19 | Idaho | $53,737 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $61,079 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $49,300 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $51,854 |
| 23 | Montana | $51,118 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $46,856 |
| 25 | Texas | $49,038 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $46,098 |
| 27 | Delaware | $53,202 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $50,633 |
| 29 | Kansas | $47,681 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $44,526 |
| 31 | Colorado | $51,329 |
| 32 | Michigan | $44,864 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $56,186 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $48,478 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $48,973 |
| 36 | Iowa | $45,605 |
| 37 | Indiana | $43,244 |
| 38 | Missouri | $46,873 |
| 39 | Maryland | $47,998 |
| 40 | Florida | $38,358 |
| 41 | Ohio | $42,915 |
| 42 | Illinois | $46,777 |
| 43 | Virginia | $48,103 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $45,682 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $40,259 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $39,826 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $43,088 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $43,416 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $41,758 |
| 50 | Georgia | $42,243 |
| 51 | Alabama | $42,890 |
Expert opinions on the best states for clinical laboratory technicians
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for clinical laboratory technicians to find work opportunities?
Keith Belcher Ph.D.
Professor, Medical Laboratory Science Director, Medical Laboratory Science Program, Georgia Southern University-Armstrong Campus
Students graduating from the program must also pass a national board certification to be able to work in the profession. The examination is sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP). Our program is running a three year average of a 90% pass rate on the exam (for first-time examinees) compared to a national average of around 78-82%. At this time, our students have a placement rate of 98%, so there are plenty of job opportunities available. Certified MLS graduates may choose to work in a variety of areas. Most will work in a hospital clinical setting or a specialty reference laboratory. Some may choose to enter into pharmaceutical research or forensic science. The COVID pandemic has brought to light the need for more Medical Laboratory Scientists. The job outlook and prospects for MLS graduates are excellent in any state within the U.S. MLS programs cannot turn out enough MLS graduates to meet current demands.
Clinical laboratory technician best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025