Median Annual Salary
According to The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) current Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual salary for medical and clinical laboratory technicians is $57,800. The median expected annual salary for phlebotomists is $37,380. Actual salaries may vary greatly based on specialization within the field, location, years of experience and a variety of other factors.
Take a look at median annual salaries by state.
What is My Earning Potential?
Medical technicians have many possibilities to boost their earning potential. For some, this job is a stepping stone to a higher-paying job as a medical and clinical lab technologist. Others will find that certain work settings may pay more than others.
Earning a certificate in a specialization can sometimes lead to higher salaries as well. The BLS states the top 10% of medical and clinical laboratory technicians earn a median annual salary of $79,340.
How Do Medical Technician Salaries Compare?
Is There Demand for This Career?
People will always get sick or injured keeping most medical careers in high demand. For medical technicians, the aging baby boomer population will continue to create job opportunities. As this demographic gets older, more illnesses will need to be diagnosed, requiring the help and expertise of medical technicians.
In addition, advancements in technology will create opportunities for newly-graduated medical technicians who are most familiar with the latest equipment.
What is the Job Growth for the Field?
The employment of medical technicians is expected to grow faster than average. The BLS predicts jobs for medical technicians will grow by 6.6% through 2031. Biological technicians are expected to see a 9.1% growth rate through 2031. This growth surpasses the national average of 5% for all other careers.
Because a significant portion of the population is aging, doctors will find themselves ordering more diagnostic tests and conducting more surgeries making medical and surgical techs necessary.
How Do I Advance in My Career?
Like most professions, furthering your education can always help your chances for advancement. The more schooling you have, the more valuable you become to an employer.
With a bachelor’s degree, a medical technician has a better shot at advancing to a medical technologist job.
Earning a more lucrative role can also come from being an expert in an area of medical technology. Histotechnicians and surgical techs tend to earn more than general medical lab technicians, therefore earning the appropriate certification can help rev up your career.