Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
As of October 2025, the average salary for Clinical Laboratory Scientists is approximately $67,900 per year, or $33 per hour. This salary can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and specific job duties. For instance, Clinical Laboratory Scientists in high-demand states often earn more, reflecting the regional variations in healthcare needs.
Understanding the average salary by state is crucial for job seekers. States like California and New York offer higher salaries, often exceeding $75,000 annually, while states with lower costs of living may offer lower salaries. Analyzing these differences can help you pinpoint the best locations for employment.
In addition to state variations, Clinical Laboratory Scientists can increase their earning potential by specializing in areas such as molecular diagnostics or blood banking. Continuous education and certifications can also enhance career prospects and salary potential.
Let Zippia find your next clinical laboratory scientist job
Let Zippia find your next clinical laboratory scientist job
The highest-paying states for clinical laboratory scientists are Alaska, California, and Nevada. The lowest average clinical laboratory scientist salary states are Wyoming, Louisiana, and Montana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $74,740 | $35.93 |
| 2 | Arizona | $66,317 | $31.88 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $62,962 | $30.27 |
| 4 | Washington | $67,141 | $32.28 |
| 5 | Alaska | $79,112 | $38.03 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $59,585 | $28.65 |
| 7 | Nevada | $75,473 | $36.29 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $63,196 | $30.38 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $71,461 | $34.36 |
| 10 | Maine | $59,369 | $28.54 |
| 11 | New York | $63,458 | $30.51 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $60,029 | $28.86 |
| 13 | California | $76,206 | $36.64 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $59,814 | $28.76 |
| 15 | Delaware | $60,309 | $28.99 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $61,026 | $29.34 |
| 17 | Vermont | $59,056 | $28.39 |
| 18 | Idaho | $61,464 | $29.55 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $60,057 | $28.87 |
| 20 | Utah | $60,955 | $29.31 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $62,788 | $30.19 |
| 22 | Texas | $58,232 | $28.00 |
| 23 | Maryland | $58,906 | $28.32 |
| 24 | Alabama | $57,381 | $27.59 |
| 25 | Michigan | $55,984 | $26.92 |
| 26 | Virginia | $58,913 | $28.32 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $65,147 | $31.32 |
| 28 | Florida | $55,703 | $26.78 |
| 29 | Ohio | $55,304 | $26.59 |
| 30 | Georgia | $56,008 | $26.93 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $53,141 | $25.55 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $53,903 | $25.91 |
| 33 | Indiana | $53,743 | $25.84 |
| 34 | Kansas | $53,867 | $25.90 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $53,531 | $25.74 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $55,715 | $26.79 |
| 37 | Iowa | $52,383 | $25.18 |
| 38 | Colorado | $54,183 | $26.05 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $53,828 | $25.88 |
| 40 | Illinois | $52,123 | $25.06 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $52,964 | $25.46 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $51,487 | $24.75 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $52,735 | $25.35 |
| 44 | Missouri | $51,711 | $24.86 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $51,961 | $24.98 |
| 46 | Montana | $48,375 | $23.26 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $51,906 | $24.95 |
| 48 | North Dakota | $44,245 | $21.27 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $44,214 | $21.26 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $49,788 | $23.94 |
| 51 | Minnesota | $44,234 | $21.27 |
The highest-paying cities for clinical laboratory scientists are Santa Rosa, CA, Reno, NV, and White Plains, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $84,320 | $40.54 |
| 2 | Reno, NV | $80,322 | $38.62 |
| 3 | White Plains, NY | $63,595 | $30.57 |
| 4 | Lebanon, PA | $62,943 | $30.26 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $62,831 | $30.21 |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | $59,401 | $28.56 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $59,151 | $28.44 |
| 8 | Charlottesville, VA | $57,909 | $27.84 |
| 9 | Sunrise, FL | $56,001 | $26.92 |
| 10 | Lenexa, KS | $53,706 | $25.82 |
| 11 | Saint Louis, MO | $52,200 | $25.10 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $52,182 | $25.09 |
Clinical Laboratory Scientists are the most in-demand in these five cities:
A clinical laboratory scientist's salary ranges from $46,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $99,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $99,000 | $8,250 | $48 |
| 75th Percentile | $82,000 | $6,833 | $39 |
| Average | $67,900 | $5,658 | $33 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| 10th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
The highest paying types of clinical laboratory scientists are certified physician assistant, medical technologist lead, and laboratory supervisor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist Technician | $36,090 | $3,008 | $17.35 | 73,800 |
| Histologic Technician | $49,962 | $4,163 | $24.02 | 6,785 |
| 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 |
| Laboratory Coordinator | $52,690 | $4,391 | $25.33 | 64,914 |
Top companies hiring clinical laboratory scientists now:
Clinical laboratory scientist salaries at Westpac and Amazon are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average clinical laboratory scientist salary at companies like Natera and University of California, Berkeley are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Westpac | $107,176 | $51.53 |
| 2 | Amazon | $104,534 | $50.26 |
| 3 | Natera | $103,700 | $49.86 |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley | $103,370 | $49.70 |
| 5 | Stanford University | $103,012 | $49.52 |
| 6 | University of California | $98,288 | $47.25 |
| 7 | Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego | $97,632 | $46.94 |
| 8 | SHERIDAN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION | $97,621 | $46.93 |
| 9 | Bingham Memorial Hospital | $97,426 | $46.84 |
| 10 | Appalachian Regional Healthcare | $95,370 | $45.85 |
| 11 | Logan Health | $94,934 | $45.64 |
| 12 | Plumas District Hospital | $94,848 | $45.60 |
| 13 | Washington Hospital Healthcare System | $94,303 | $45.34 |
| 14 | PerkinElmer | $94,063 | $45.22 |
| 15 | Nor-Lea Hospital District | $94,056 | $45.22 |
| 16 | CHI Mercy Health | $93,963 | $45.17 |
| 17 | Exact Sciences | $93,951 | $45.17 |
| 18 | Sierra Nevada Home Care | $93,893 | $45.14 |
| 19 | Aya Healthcare | $93,676 | $45.04 |
| 20 | Maxim Healthcare Group | $92,991 | $44.71 |
The average clinical laboratory scientist salary has risen by $8,502 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average clinical laboratory scientist earned $59,398 annually, but today, they earn $67,900 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for clinical laboratory scientists over the last decade.
Compare clinical laboratory scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare clinical laboratory scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $67,900 | $32.64 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $66,100 | $31.76 | -0.7% |
| 2023 | $66,500 | $31.99 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $64,900 | $31.19 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $63,600 | $30.59 | +0.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Red Cross | Clinical Laboratory Scientist | Stockton, CA | 06/30/2025 | $114,785 |
| Veracyte | Clinical Laboratory Scientist | San Diego, CA | 06/29/2025 | $75,132 |
| Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District | Clinical Lab Scientist | Brawley, CA | 06/29/2025 | $94,416 |
| Good Samaritan Hospital | Clinical Laboratory Scientist | San Jose, CA | 06/29/2025 | $123,550 |
| Invitrogen Holdings | Clinical Laboratory Scientist II (CLS) | West Sacramento, CA | 06/29/2025 | $90,000 |
| Aa067 | Clinical Laboratory Scientist II | Irvine, CA | 06/29/2025 | $126,389 |
| Prime Healthcare | Clinical Laboratory Scientist I | Los Angeles, CA | 06/28/2025 | $99,738 |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | Clinical Laboratory Scientist | Oklahoma City, OK | 06/28/2025 | $59,063 |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | Clinical Laboratory Scientist | Portland, OR | 06/28/2025 | $78,401 |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | Clinical Laboratory Scientist | Erie, PA | 06/28/2025 | $51,215 |
Search for clinical laboratory scientist jobs