What do they do?
Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.
Also known as:
Clinical Lab Tech (Clinical Laboratory Technician), Lab Assistant (Laboratory Assistant), Lab Associate (Laboratory Associate), Lab Tech (Laboratory Technician), Medical Lab Assistant (Medical Laboratory Assistant), Medical Technician (Medical Tech), Microbiology MLT (Microbiology Medical Laboratory Technician), MLT (Medical Laboratory Technician), Specimen Processor, Travel Medical Lab Tech (Travel Medical Laboratory Technician)
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-1.7%
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Ranks #66 in job growth rate790Job Openings
Ranks #11 in net job growth
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Most Popular Majors that prepare Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
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#1
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Degrees Granted
582
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Female Students
449
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Male Students
133
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Median Starting Salary
$48,800
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#2
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Degrees Granted
95
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Female Students
80
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Male Students
15
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Median Starting Salary
$48,800
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#3
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Degrees Granted
24
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Female Students
18
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Male Students
6
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Median Starting Salary
$48,800
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#4
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Degrees Granted
12
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Female Students
11
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Male Students
1
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Median Starting Salary
$38,300
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#5
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Degrees Granted
8
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Female Students
6
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Male Students
2
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Median Starting Salary
$48,800
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People in this career often have these skills:
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
People in this career often know a lot about:
- Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
- Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
People in this career often have talent in:
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
People in this career often do these activities:
- Analyze test results.
- Evaluate data quality.
- Interpret design or operational test results.
- Direct quality control activities.
- Test biological specimens to gather information about patient conditions.
- Analyze laboratory specimens to detect abnormalities or other problems.
- Operate laboratory equipment to analyze medical samples.
- Enter patient or treatment data into computers.
- Analyze laboratory findings.
- Clean medical equipment or facilities.
- Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use.
- Maintain medical laboratory equipment.
- Collect biological specimens from patients.
- Cultivate micro-organisms for study, testing, or medical preparations.
- Prepare biological specimens for laboratory analysis.
- Test materials, solutions, or samples.
- Test quality of materials or finished products.
- Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
- Train medical providers.
- Supervise technical medical personnel.
- Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care.
This page includes data from:
Career data:
O*NET 31.0 Database
by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA
Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Employment Statistics
Videos:
CareerOneStop
, USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development
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