How to hire a medical laboratory assistant

How to hire a medical laboratory assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step medical laboratory assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a medical laboratory assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new medical laboratory assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a medical laboratory assistant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your medical laboratory assistant job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a medical laboratory assistant for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a medical laboratory assistant to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a medical laboratory assistant that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of medical laboratory assistant salaries for various roles:

   Type of Medical Laboratory Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Medical Laboratory Assistant	Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Their duties vary with the location, specialty, and size of the practice.	$12-20
   Medical Clerk	A medical clerk works in the administrative area of a medical facility or hospital. The medical clerk collects all patient information and medical records... Show more	$12-19
   Laboratory Aide	A laboratory aide is primarily responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and order in laboratories, all while performing support tasks for scientists. Their duties revolve around arranging specimens and samples, transporting materials from one laboratory to another, preparing apparatuses and machines, and storing them accordingly... Show more	$9-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Customer Service
   • Data Entry
   • Lab Equipment
   • Patient Care
   • Venipuncture
   • Specimen Handling
   • Specimen Collection
   • Process Specimens
   • Blood Specimens
   • LIS
   • OSHA
   • Urine Specimens
   • Vital Signs

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Direct a team of professionals to achieve superior and consistent ventilator weaning outcomes for long term ventilator dependent patients.
   • Ensure and enforce medical office compliance with HIPAA, OSHA, and CLIA regulations for maximum quality and control
   • Adhere to JCAHO confidentiality as well as maintained CLIA and OSHA standards.
   • Monitor lab performance to be in compliance with CLIA requirements.
   • Ensure CLIA standards are compliant and assist annual state inspectors during their surveys.
   • Conduct intake assessments in emergency room which include administering of vitals, EKG s, and patient prepping.

   More medical laboratory assistant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the medical laboratory assistant job description is a good way to get more applicants. A medical laboratory assistant salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a medical laboratory assistant in Tennessee may be lower than in Hawaii, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level medical laboratory assistant. Additionally, a medical laboratory assistant with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average medical laboratory assistant salary

   $16.67hourly

   $34,673 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level medical laboratory assistant salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average medical laboratory assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Oregon	$42,220	$20
   2	Michigan	$39,598	$19
   3	California	$37,941	$18
   4	Maine	$37,624	$18
   5	Ohio	$36,922	$18
   6	New Jersey	$35,505	$17
   7	Texas	$35,482	$17
   8	North Dakota	$35,149	$17
   9	New Mexico	$34,959	$17
   10	Illinois	$34,408	$17
   11	Arizona	$33,649	$16
   12	South Dakota	$31,423	$15
   13	Nebraska	$31,155	$15
   14	Oklahoma	$30,163	$15
   15	Florida	$26,943	$13
   16	South Carolina	$24,420	$12

   Average medical laboratory assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	University of California-Berkeley	$46,364	$22.29
   2	Medical University of South Carolina	$43,336	$20.83	64
   3	MAS Medical Staffing	$42,900	$20.63	14
   4	Sonic Healthcare USA	$39,260	$18.88	201
   5	High Peaks Physicaltherapy	$37,889	$18.22	4
   6	Minnesota Limited	$37,847	$18.20	8
   7	Self Regional Healthcare	$37,685	$18.12	19
   8	Mayo Clinic	$37,641	$18.10	158
   9	St. Charles Health System	$37,551	$18.05	47
   10	Meridian Bank	$37,486	$18.02
   11	University of Nebraska System	$37,474	$18.02
   12	Prime Healthcare	$37,323	$17.94	109
   13	Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego	$36,893	$17.74
   14	Memorial Health	$36,805	$17.69	97
   15	Eisenhower Medical Center	$36,792	$17.69
   16	Vidant Health	$36,762	$17.67	20
   17	Mission Regional Medical Center	$36,583	$17.59	132
   18	CovenantHealth	$36,565	$17.58	77
   19	Tidelands Health	$36,517	$17.56	25
   20	BayCare Health System	$36,409	$17.50	112

4. Writing a medical laboratory assistant job description

   A job description for a medical laboratory assistant role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a medical laboratory assistant job description:

   Medical laboratory assistant job description example

   Collects blood/urine/swabs specimens from patients of all ages and processes specimens appropriately for delivery to testing department. Performs and results a variety of waived point-of-care testing including quality control. Interprets and inputs all laboratory orders into computer system for outpatient testing. Determines medical necessity and interprets orders that have a diagnosis that does not support the testing ordered.
   
   Full-Time [07:30AM - 04:00PM]
   Qualifications Education:
   • High School graduate or equivalent required.
   Licensure/Certification/Registry:
   • ASCP Phlebotomy Certification preferred.
   Experience:
   • Experience preferred.
   Other Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
   • Knowledge of use of proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
   • Customer-service oriented.
   • Good communication skills required.
   • Basic medical terminology helpful.
   • Strong typing and computer skills necessary.
   • Ability to accurately follow directions and perform specific functions.
   • May be exposed to potentially infectious diseases. Responsibilities Performs and results waived point-of-care testing such as urine pregnancies, urine dipsticks, rapid strep screens, RSV, influenza, and Hem occult testing. Correctly enter patient demographic and billing information into the hospital admitting system. Understands insurance policy numbers and carrier codes. Verifies diagnosis with test order for Medicare reimbursement. Prints the ABN and obtains necessary patient information on required situations. Provides accurate communication to assist outpatients in the Medicare process. Accurately identify and obtain blood specimens from patients of all ages, employees, etc. as requested by authorized personnel (i.e. physicians, nurses, residents) using correct technique and appropriate equipment. Maintains productivity at a rate comparable to other experienced staff (6-8 patients per hour). Reads, interprets and correctly enters outpatient and non-patient physician orders, questioning any unclear order with supervisor. Rechecks the order for errors, making any necessary corrections. Performs cancellations requested by authorized personnel using proper documentation. Participates in the collection of special procedures (ISP, drug screens, EBT, cultures, Influenza/RSV's, research studies, bone marrows, capillary collections, therapeutic phlebotomy, cortisol stimulation testing, etc.). Assist non-laboratory personnel with specimen requirements and collection procedures. Ensure specimen integrity by adhering to appropriate laboratory packaging protocols. Ensures that all specimens received from client and physician offices are documented against packing lists and follows up with the site in the event all specimens are not received. Completes tracking logs and prepares specimens for courier pick up. Monitor daily phlebotomy actions by the use of various computer programs and logs (ORV, collection list, will call board, etc.). Maintains specimen tracking by correctly logging in all specimens with the correct time and date of specimen collection. Maintains Phlebotomy and clerical areas in a clean and orderly manner. Order and maintain supplies and keep areas stocked accordingly. Inputs all faxed orders into the lab orders database, questioning any illegible order, calls physician's office with clarification of test order and patient demographics and order request (standing or one time). Communicates telephone or verbal messages effectively to appropriate lab divisions, personnel or administrative staff. Provides effective communication to the outpatient either in person or by telephone. Gives patient test results to nursing units and physician offices in accordance with medical center policies either verbally or by fax communication. 11. Performs other related work as required or requested. Not ready to apply? Connect with us for general consideration.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find medical laboratory assistants for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   To find medical laboratory assistant candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with medical laboratory assistant candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new medical laboratory assistant

   Once you've decided on a perfect medical laboratory assistant candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new medical laboratory assistant. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a medical laboratory assistant?