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Clinical Laboratory Scientist Outcomes & Career Options
Outcomes & Career Options
Clinical Laboratory scientists supervise or perform laboratory tests that aid the physician in the diagnosis and treatment of the patient’s disease. They have a variety of tasks including: microscopically examine blood, tissue, and other body substances; make cultures of body fluids or tissue samples to determine the presence of bacteria, fungi, parasites, or other microorganisms; analyze samples for chemical content or reaction; and determine blood glucose or cholesterol levels. Clinical laboratory scientists also type and crossmatch blood samples for transfusions.
Educational Qualifications
To receive a bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory sciences, the student’s first two years of education are at La Sierra University where the students complete their prerequisite science courses. Then, two years of professional study are completed at a CLS training school. This training can last 1-2 years, after which graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification exam. With further education, CLS professionals may pursue careers in lab management, research, or education.
Job Outlook
5% Job Market Growth
$60,780 Median Salary
The median annual wage for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians was $60,780 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,770, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $93,900.
In May 2023, the median annual wages for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
- Outpatient care centers $67,590
- General medical and surgical hospitals; state, local, and private $64,680
- Junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private $58,290
- Medical and diagnostic laboratories $58,140
- Offices of physicians $51,870
Partial information in this page was retrieved from Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/clinical-laaboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm (visited April 17, 2024).
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