Skip navigation

Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technologists

Also called: Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS), Clinical Laboratory Technologist, Medical Laboratory Technologist (Medical Lab Tech), Medical Technologist (MT)

Where in the military? In the military: see titles from the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, or Navy.

Watch Career Video

What they do:
Perform complex medical laboratory tests for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May train or supervise staff.
On the job, you would:
  • Conduct chemical analysis of body fluids, including blood, urine, or spinal fluid, to determine presence of normal or abnormal components.
  • Analyze laboratory findings to check the accuracy of the results.
  • Operate, calibrate, or maintain equipment used in quantitative or qualitative analysis, such as spectrophotometers, calorimeters, flame photometers, or computer-controlled analyzers.

Knowledge

Health
  • medicine and dentistry
Math and Science
  • biology
  • chemistry
Business
  • customer service
  • administrative services
Arts and Humanities
  • English language

Skills

Basic Skills
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • reading work related information
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Verbal
  • read and understand what is written
  • listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • use rules to solve problems
Hand and Finger Use
  • keep your arm or hand steady
  • put together small parts with your fingers
Visual Understanding
  • see hidden patterns

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Cooperation
  • Stress Tolerance

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology
Medical software
  • MEDITECH software
  • Test routing software

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
associate's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Find Certifications Find Licenses Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Average Outlook
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Salary
$57,800
$30,280
$79,340
Check out my state Local Salary Info Find Jobs

Explore More

See more details at O*NET OnLine about medical and clinical laboratory technologists.