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As of October 2025, Medical Laboratory Scientists earn an average salary of $54,377 per year, translating to approximately $26 per hour. Salaries can vary widely based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific sector of employment. For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher compensation than others.
Additionally, as the demand for healthcare professionals grows, especially in laboratory settings, those entering the field can expect various opportunities for advancement. Exploring job listings can provide insights into the highest-paying positions available. Understanding these dynamics can help aspiring Medical Laboratory Scientists make informed career decisions.
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The average medical laboratory scientist salary in Alaska, Nevada, and Hawaii are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average medical laboratory scientist salary states are Louisiana, Missouri, and Nebraska.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $64,036 | $30.79 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $57,275 | $27.54 |
| 3 | Utah | $57,965 | $27.87 |
| 4 | Alaska | $76,935 | $36.99 |
| 5 | Nevada | $68,777 | $33.07 |
| 6 | Idaho | $57,925 | $27.85 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $67,589 | $32.49 |
| 8 | Vermont | $56,690 | $27.25 |
| 9 | Oregon | $66,419 | $31.93 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $57,497 | $27.64 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $53,722 | $25.83 |
| 12 | Washington | $65,534 | $31.51 |
| 13 | Michigan | $58,797 | $28.27 |
| 14 | California | $62,887 | $30.23 |
| 15 | Maine | $56,639 | $27.23 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $53,318 | $25.63 |
| 17 | Arizona | $57,070 | $27.44 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $57,739 | $27.76 |
| 19 | Ohio | $51,567 | $24.79 |
| 20 | Delaware | $54,107 | $26.01 |
| 21 | Kansas | $52,542 | $25.26 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | $58,690 | $28.22 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $55,840 | $26.85 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $55,676 | $26.77 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $51,647 | $24.83 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $53,307 | $25.63 |
| 27 | Maryland | $51,968 | $24.98 |
| 28 | Alabama | $50,756 | $24.40 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $50,295 | $24.18 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $50,726 | $24.39 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $50,968 | $24.50 |
| 32 | Colorado | $55,546 | $26.70 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $57,964 | $27.87 |
| 34 | Montana | $52,944 | $25.45 |
| 35 | Virginia | $51,871 | $24.94 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $48,114 | $23.13 |
| 37 | Indiana | $50,498 | $24.28 |
| 38 | Illinois | $49,838 | $23.96 |
| 39 | Iowa | $49,786 | $23.94 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $51,232 | $24.63 |
| 41 | Georgia | $49,189 | $23.65 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $51,217 | $24.62 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $50,012 | $24.04 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $48,556 | $23.34 |
| 45 | Missouri | $48,235 | $23.19 |
| 46 | Texas | $50,473 | $24.27 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $48,155 | $23.15 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $48,337 | $23.24 |
| 49 | Florida | $44,133 | $21.22 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $48,540 | $23.34 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $46,997 | $22.59 |
The highest-paying cities for medical laboratory scientists are Reno, NV, Portland, OR, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reno, NV | $71,644 | $34.44 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $66,483 | $31.96 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $66,111 | $31.78 |
| 4 | Detroit, MI | $58,969 | $28.35 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $58,731 | $28.24 |
| 6 | Paterson, NJ | $57,901 | $27.84 |
| 7 | Salt Lake City, UT | $57,868 | $27.82 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $57,708 | $27.74 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $57,288 | $27.54 |
| 10 | Portland, ME | $56,871 | $27.34 |
| 11 | Fort Collins, CO | $55,756 | $26.81 |
| 12 | Kansas City, KS | $52,614 | $25.30 |
| 13 | Baltimore, MD | $52,228 | $25.11 |
| 14 | El Paso, TX | $52,224 | $25.11 |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $52,135 | $25.06 |
| 16 | Bowling Green, OH | $51,613 | $24.81 |
| 17 | Bismarck, ND | $51,228 | $24.63 |
| 18 | Sioux Falls, SD | $50,690 | $24.37 |
| 19 | Minneapolis, MN | $49,981 | $24.03 |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $49,960 | $24.02 |
Medical Laboratory Scientists are the most in-demand in these five cities:
A medical laboratory scientist's salary ranges from $41,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $71,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| Average | $54,377 | $4,531 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
The highest paying types of medical laboratory scientists are medical technologist lead, clinical laboratory scientist, and laboratory supervisor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Histologic Technician | $49,962 | $4,163 | $24.02 | 6,785 |
| Pharmacist Technician | $36,090 | $3,008 | $17.35 | 73,800 |
| Certified Pharmacist Technician | $37,059 | $3,088 | $17.82 | 113,033 |
| Medical Technologist, Generalist | $58,246 | $4,854 | $28.00 | 121,721 |
| Medical Technologist Lead | $68,094 | $5,675 | $32.74 | 125,848 |
| Medical Technologist | $53,249 | $4,437 | $25.60 | 116,495 |
Top companies hiring medical laboratory scientists now:
Medical laboratory scientist salaries at Eli Lilly and Company and Favorite Healthcare Staffing are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average medical laboratory scientist salary at companies like Natera and University of Washington are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eli Lilly and Company | $68,981 | $33.16 |
| 2 | Favorite Healthcare Staffing | $67,776 | $32.58 |
| 3 | Natera | $65,567 | $31.52 |
| 4 | University of Washington | $65,064 | $31.28 |
| 5 | Health Advocates | $65,050 | $31.27 |
| 6 | Massachusetts General Hospital | $64,952 | $31.23 |
| 7 | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | $64,490 | $31.00 |
| 8 | Oregon Health & Science University | $64,204 | $30.87 |
| 9 | The University of Vermont Health Network | $63,255 | $30.41 |
| 10 | Careerstaff Unlimited - A Genesis Healthcare Company | $63,080 | $30.33 |
| 11 | US Oncology Holdings Inc | $62,826 | $30.20 |
| 12 | Yuma Regional Medical Center | $62,819 | $30.20 |
| 13 | Baystate Health | $62,561 | $30.08 |
| 14 | WakeMed | $62,349 | $29.98 |
| 15 | Timpanogos Regional Hospital | $62,343 | $29.97 |
| 16 | Children's Medical Center | $62,146 | $29.88 |
| 17 | Heartland Home Health Inc. | $61,833 | $29.73 |
| 18 | Au Medical Associates Inc | $61,529 | $29.58 |
| 19 | Carondelet High School | $60,927 | $29.29 |
| 20 | Lexington Medical Center | $60,543 | $29.11 |
The average medical laboratory scientist salary has risen by $6,809 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average medical laboratory scientist earned $47,568 annually, but today, they earn $54,377 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for medical laboratory scientists over the last decade.
Compare medical laboratory scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare medical laboratory scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $54,400 | $26.14 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $52,900 | $25.43 | -0.7% |
| 2023 | $53,300 | $25.62 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $52,000 | $24.98 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $51,000 | $24.50 | +0.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gundersen Health System | Medical Laboratory Scientist-Nights (NO Weekends) | Boscobel, WI | 06/30/2025 | $59,438 |
| Trinity Health | Medical Laboratory Scientist-Microbiology | Ann Arbor, MI | 06/30/2025 | $62,881 |
| Searhc | Medical Lab Scientist & 10K Relocation. | Sitka, AK | 06/29/2025 | $71,271 |
| Centracare Health | Medical Lab Scientist | Saint Cloud, MN | 06/29/2025 | $60,022 |
| Quest Diagnostics Incorporated | Medical Laboratory Scientist I | Las Vegas, NV | 06/28/2025 | $71,480 |
| Quest Diagnostics Incorporated | Medical Laboratory Scientist I | Seattle, WA | 06/28/2025 | $84,106 |
| Essentia Health | Medical Laboratory Scientist (Casual) | Brainerd, MN | 06/28/2025 | $62,213 |
| Essentia Health | Medical Laboratory Scientist-Special Hematology | Fargo, ND | 06/28/2025 | $62,213 |
| Northwestern Medicine | Medical Laboratory Scientist Nights | Lake Forest, IL | 06/28/2025 | $72,315 |
| Uc Health | Medical Lab Scientist | Aurora, CO | 06/28/2025 | $70,582 |
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