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Best states for a medical technologist
Quoted expert
Keith Belcher Ph.D.
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Medical technologist opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for medical technologists, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for medical technologists.Although there are abundant medical technologist jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. Idaho is the best state in the country for medical technologist jobs.
The median salary for medical technologists in Idaho is $58,873. Compare that to the median salary in Oklahoma of $45,965, which ranked worst for medical technologists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that Idaho is the best state for medical technologist jobs, whereas Oklahoma is the worst.
10 best states for medical technologists in 2025
1. Idaho
Total medical technologist jobs: 504 Average annual salary: $58,873 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
2. Alaska
Total medical technologist jobs: 169 Average annual salary: $79,790 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
3. California
Total medical technologist jobs: 7,380 Average annual salary: $68,095 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
4. Nevada
Total medical technologist jobs: 442 Average annual salary: $65,696 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1
5. Massachusetts
Total medical technologist jobs: 1,979 Average annual salary: $64,915 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
6. Washington
Total medical technologist jobs: 1,342 Average annual salary: $69,535 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
7. New Hampshire
Total medical technologist jobs: 406 Average annual salary: $58,771 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
8. Maine
Total medical technologist jobs: 362 Average annual salary: $56,260 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
9. Vermont
Total medical technologist jobs: 181 Average annual salary: $58,115 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
10. Utah
Total medical technologist jobs: 856 Average annual salary: $55,295 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
Medical technologist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a medical technologist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a medical technologist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $58,873 | $46,000 | 1,716,943 | 504 |
| 2 | Alaska | $79,790 | $69,000 | 739,795 | 169 |
| 3 | California | $68,095 | $51,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,380 |
| 4 | Nevada | $65,696 | $49,000 | 2,998,039 | 442 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $64,915 | $52,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,979 |
| 6 | Washington | $69,535 | $55,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,342 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $58,771 | $47,000 | 1,342,795 | 406 |
| 8 | Maine | $56,260 | $45,000 | 1,335,907 | 362 |
| 9 | Vermont | $58,115 | $47,000 | 623,657 | 181 |
| 10 | Utah | $55,295 | $42,000 | 3,101,833 | 856 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $62,444 | $49,000 | 3,588,184 | 649 |
| 12 | Arizona | $56,748 | $44,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,370 |
| 13 | Montana | $57,851 | $46,000 | 1,050,493 | 246 |
| 14 | Oregon | $67,279 | $53,000 | 4,142,776 | 589 |
| 15 | Delaware | $56,585 | $44,000 | 961,939 | 292 |
| 16 | New York | $59,416 | $47,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,604 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $53,638 | $44,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,778 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $59,460 | $46,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,482 |
| 19 | Michigan | $53,453 | $43,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,723 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $55,347 | $44,000 | 579,315 | 100 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $67,418 | $57,000 | 1,427,538 | 121 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $49,040 | $39,000 | 1,815,857 | 480 |
| 23 | Florida | $53,783 | $42,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,039 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $55,077 | $43,000 | 1,059,639 | 202 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $54,303 | $42,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,849 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $52,418 | $43,000 | 755,393 | 188 |
| 27 | Indiana | $50,899 | $40,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,418 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $50,011 | $39,000 | 2,088,070 | 521 |
| 29 | Illinois | $49,663 | $40,000 | 12,802,023 | 3,222 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $56,928 | $44,000 | 693,972 | 288 |
| 31 | Iowa | $49,772 | $40,000 | 3,145,711 | 745 |
| 32 | Virginia | $53,702 | $42,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,854 |
| 33 | Colorado | $54,407 | $43,000 | 5,607,154 | 986 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $47,201 | $37,000 | 4,454,189 | 1,084 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $47,092 | $38,000 | 3,004,279 | 672 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $50,343 | $41,000 | 5,795,483 | 930 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $47,749 | $39,000 | 869,666 | 230 |
| 38 | Georgia | $47,590 | $38,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,733 |
| 39 | Maryland | $54,433 | $42,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,010 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $50,727 | $41,000 | 1,920,076 | 302 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $48,494 | $39,000 | 6,715,984 | 936 |
| 42 | Ohio | $48,856 | $39,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,507 |
| 43 | Missouri | $47,044 | $37,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,528 |
| 44 | Alabama | $45,924 | $37,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,041 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $48,588 | $38,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,730 |
| 46 | Texas | $48,936 | $39,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,982 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $45,939 | $37,000 | 2,984,100 | 477 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $46,949 | $37,000 | 4,684,333 | 679 |
| 49 | Kansas | $47,290 | $38,000 | 2,913,123 | 546 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $41,656 | $33,000 | 5,024,369 | 1,060 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $45,965 | $37,000 | 3,930,864 | 403 |
Highest paying states for medical technologists
| Rank | State | Avg. Medical Technologist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $58,873 |
| 2 | Alaska | $79,790 |
| 3 | California | $68,095 |
| 4 | Nevada | $65,696 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $64,915 |
| 6 | Washington | $69,535 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $58,771 |
| 8 | Maine | $56,260 |
| 9 | Vermont | $58,115 |
| 10 | Utah | $55,295 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $62,444 |
| 12 | Arizona | $56,748 |
| 13 | Montana | $57,851 |
| 14 | Oregon | $67,279 |
| 15 | Delaware | $56,585 |
| 16 | New York | $59,416 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $53,638 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $59,460 |
| 19 | Michigan | $53,453 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $55,347 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $67,418 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $49,040 |
| 23 | Florida | $53,783 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $55,077 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $54,303 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $52,418 |
| 27 | Indiana | $50,899 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $50,011 |
| 29 | Illinois | $49,663 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $56,928 |
| 31 | Iowa | $49,772 |
| 32 | Virginia | $53,702 |
| 33 | Colorado | $54,407 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $47,201 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $47,092 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $50,343 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $47,749 |
| 38 | Georgia | $47,590 |
| 39 | Maryland | $54,433 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $50,727 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $48,494 |
| 42 | Ohio | $48,856 |
| 43 | Missouri | $47,044 |
| 44 | Alabama | $45,924 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $48,588 |
| 46 | Texas | $48,936 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $45,939 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $46,949 |
| 49 | Kansas | $47,290 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $41,656 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $45,965 |
Expert opinions on the best states for medical technologists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for medical technologists 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025