Occupation · SOC 29-2012
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.
Median wage
$54,270
$36,380–$87,540
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
3,124,620
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
199 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingScienceWritingTime ManagementQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringMonitoringInstructingComplex Problem SolvingSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationJudgment and Decision MakingCoordinationActive LearningOperation and ControlManagement of Personnel ResourcesLearning StrategiesTroubleshootingSystems AnalysisMathematicsEquipment MaintenanceNegotiationEquipment SelectionRepairingPersuasionSystems EvaluationOperations AnalysisTechnology DesignManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesProgrammingInstallation
Knowledge areas
ChemistryBiologyEnglish LanguageMathematicsCustomer and Personal ServicePublic Safety and SecurityAdministrativeMedicine and DentistryEducation and TrainingComputers and ElectronicsProduction and ProcessingLaw and GovernmentMechanicalAdministration and ManagementEngineering and TechnologyTelecommunicationsPhysicsPsychologyCommunications and MediaPersonnel and Human ResourcesTransportationSociology and AnthropologyForeign LanguageTherapy and CounselingPhilosophy and TheologyEconomics and AccountingSales and MarketingDesignGeographyFood ProductionHistory and ArcheologyFine ArtsBuilding and Construction
Technology & tools
Billing softwareCommercial plate reader softwareData entry softwareDatabase softwareElectronic medical record EMR softwareEmail softwareFileMaker ProGoogle DocsHematology laboratory workflow management softwareIBM NotesLaboratory information system LISMEDITECH softwareMedical digital imaging softwareMedical softwareMedical system integration softwareMicroscopic image capturing softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordMinitabNational Instruments LabVIEWQuality control softwareQuizletReimbursement screening softwareSAP softwareSpecimen tracking softwareSpreadsheet softwareSunquest Information Systems Sunquest LaboratoryTest result delivery softwareTest routing softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
Processing InformationWorking with ComputersGetting InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsDocumenting/Recording InformationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesAnalyzing Data or InformationTraining and Teaching OthersIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsControlling Machines and ProcessesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentDeveloping and Building TeamsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationCoaching and Developing OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsAssisting and Caring for OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesThinking CreativelyPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationPerforming General Physical ActivitiesRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentPerforming Administrative ActivitiesResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersScheduling Work and ActivitiesMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentStaffing Organizational Units
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Basic laboratory equipment and glassware — identify and handle under direct supervision in a clinical laboratory setting.Standard aseptic techniques — apply when collecting blood samples from patients under the guidance of a supervising technician.Chemical analyses of body fluids — perform preliminary steps using automatic analyzers while following written protocols in a hospital laboratory.Standardized reagent formulas — prepare simple volumetric solutions by following step-by-step written procedures under close supervision.Microscopy equipment — operate at a basic level to examine body fluid samples under direct technician oversight.Laboratory findings — enter test results into computer systems accurately following data-entry protocols established by the laboratory.Medical laboratory safety and asepsis principles — follow established procedures to maintain sterile conditions in a clinical environment.Test results and normal reference ranges — recognize and flag obvious abnormalities under the direction of a senior technician.Laboratory information software — navigate and retrieve basic patient records following supervisor guidance in a clinical lab.Active listening and reading comprehension — apply to understand and carry out verbal and written instructions during daily laboratory tasks.
developing
Chemical analyses of blood and urine samples — conduct routinely using automatic analyzers and microscopes with minimal oversight in a clinical laboratory.Medical laboratory equipment — set up, calibrate, and clean instruments independently according to standard maintenance schedules in a hospital lab.Volumetric solutions and reagents — prepare accurately using standardized formulas, adapting to varying sample requirements in a routine laboratory workflow.Blood and tissue samples — collect from patients independently while consistently observing aseptic principles in a clinical or outpatient setting.Test results and experimental data — analyze for conformity to laboratory specifications using mechanical or electrical devices in a diagnostic environment.Laboratory findings — record and enter into database systems with attention to detail and accuracy during normal daily operations.Time management principles — apply to prioritize multiple specimen analyses and equipment tasks efficiently during moderate-volume laboratory shifts.Quality control procedures — monitor ongoing test runs and flag out-of-range results for review in a clinical lab setting.Medical and billing software — use to document patient testing information and support administrative workflows in a laboratory department.Newer laboratory assistants — provide informal guidance on equipment use and safety protocols in a supervised team environment.
proficient
Complex chemical analyses of body fluids — perform autonomously across a full range of specimen types, interpreting abnormal findings in a high-volume clinical laboratory.Non-routine equipment malfunctions — diagnose and resolve independently, applying troubleshooting judgment to maintain analytical accuracy in a laboratory setting.Reagent and solution preparation — execute using experimental as well as standardized procedures, adapting formulations to address atypical sample or assay needs.Sterility and quality control standards — evaluate and enforce rigorously across all laboratory workflows, initiating corrective actions when deviations are detected.Critical test results — communicate clearly and promptly to clinical staff using sound judgment to prioritize patient-safety implications in a hospital environment.Laboratory data and analytical software — leverage advanced features to analyze trends, identify systemic errors, and support continuous quality improvement efforts.Aseptic blood and tissue collection — perform on challenging patient populations while coaching peers on technique refinement in a clinical care setting.Operations monitoring — oversee multiple concurrent test runs, applying problem sensitivity to catch process deviations before they affect patient results.Regulatory and accreditation requirements — interpret and apply to ensure laboratory compliance with CAP, CLIA, or equivalent standards on a daily basis.Cross-functional coordination — collaborate with pathologists, nurses, and billing staff to resolve complex specimen or reporting issues across a healthcare system.
advanced
Laboratory competency frameworks — develop and implement for all technician staff, setting measurable performance standards across a multi-section clinical laboratory.Technicians and laboratory assistants — supervise, mentor, and formally instruct to build departmental capability and ensure consistent quality of analytical output.Quality management programs — design and lead, including proficiency testing oversight and root-cause analysis, to drive continuous improvement across the laboratory.New analytical technologies and workflows — evaluate, validate, and integrate into laboratory operations, making evidence-based recommendations to leadership.Laboratory policies and standard operating procedures — author and revise to reflect current best practices, regulatory mandates, and institutional patient-safety goals.Departmental training curricula — create and deliver for orientation and ongoing education of clinical laboratory personnel in a healthcare organization.Strategic laboratory resource planning — direct, allocating equipment, reagents, and staffing to optimize throughput and cost-effectiveness at an organizational scale.Complex problem-solving initiatives — lead cross-departmental teams to address systemic analytical errors or safety incidents affecting laboratory and patient outcomes.Laboratory data and performance metrics — synthesize and present to hospital administration and accreditation bodies using analytical and presentation software.Interdisciplinary service orientation — champion within the laboratory, forging partnerships with clinical, administrative, and public safety stakeholders to advance patient care quality.
Also known as
46 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
BiotechnicianBlood and Plasma Laboratory AssistantBlood Bank Laboratory TechnicianBlood or Blood Bank TechnicianBlood TyperCatheterization Laboratory Technician (Catheterization Lab Tech)Certified Clinical Laboratory TechnicianCertified Dialysis TechnicianClinical Laboratory Assistant (Clinical Lab Assistant)Clinical Laboratory Technician (Clinical Lab Technician)Clinical Research AssistantClinical Technician (Clinical Tech)Donor Center TechnicianHematology TechnicianHemodialysis TechnicianHistologic AideHistologic TechnicianHistology TechnicianHistopathology TechnicianHistotechnicianLaboratory Assistant (Lab Assistant)Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech)Laboratory WorkerMedical Lab AssistantMedical Laboratory AssistantMedical Laboratory SpecialistMedical Laboratory Technician (MLT)Medical Laboratory Technicians (Medical Lab Technician)Medical Numerical Control OperatorMedical TechnicianMicrobiology TechnicianNeurology TechnicianPathological TechnicianPathologist AssistantPathology TechnicianPatient Care TechnicianPharmaceutical Laboratory TechnicianResearch Technician (Research Tech)Serology TechnicianSleep Technician