Laboratory assistants prepare samples for scientists to observe.
Medical laboratory assistants are professionally known as medical or clinical laboratory technicians. They are the support staff in a medical research facility, assisting medical scientists and laboratory technologists to carry out and record experiments into the causes, treatment, development and prevention of diseases. Salary levels for the role reflect its auxiliary status.
Average Pay
During its national employment survey of 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average annual salary for a medical laboratory technician was $37,860. Calculated from pay information supplied by 152,420 individuals, this is equivalent to a monthly income of $3,155 and an hourly average of $18.20. Technicians are likely to receive additional benefits such as health insurance coverage and paid vacations.
Pay by Industry
Medical laboratory assistants work across various sectors of the health-care industry and pay levels differ among these sectors. The Bureau ranked junior colleges as the sector with the highest average salaries -- $48,040 -- followed by scientific research and development services -- $41,610. Similar wages were available to individuals working within federal government agencies and home health care services -- $40,610 and $40,130, respectively -- while medical and diagnostic laboratories paid an average of just $35,590.
Pay by Location
Location also affects technician salaries. Pay comparison website SalaryExpert.com, in its 2011 analysis of pay for the occupation in certain major cities, found the best rates to be in New York, New York -- $45,933 -- and the lowest in Miami, Florida -- $28,970. The Bureau of Labor Statistics listed Rhode Island as the most lucrative state for a technician to work in, with an annual average of $55,490. In contrast, Georgia was listed at $32,060. It also listed the Champaign, Urbana area of Illinois as the metropolitan district with the highest average pay across all industry sectors -- $62,410 -- with Jackson, Tennessee listed at just $24,500.
Outlook
Estimates published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics put employment growth for medical laboratory technicians, and their immediate superiors, technologists, at approximately 14 percent during the decade from 2008 to 2018. This is faster growth than predicted across all industries in the U.S. -- expected to be between 7 and 13 percent over the period. Technological advancements in testing procedures combined with an increasing population will fuel this growth. As a result, medical laboratory technician should continue to receive competitive rates of pay.
Tags: Bureau Labor, Bureau Labor Statistics, Labor Statistics, medical laboratory, highest average
