Medical Laboratory Scientist Salary in the United States

How much does a Medical Laboratory Scientist make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Medical Laboratory Scientist in the United States is $84,319 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $41.

However, a Medical Laboratory Scientist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $97,936
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $77,689 to $91,447
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $71,653
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View as table View as graph 25% $77,689 10% $71,653 90% $97,936 75% $91,447 $84,319 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Medical Laboratory Scientist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $91,447 $7,621 $1,759 $44
Average $84,319 $7,027 $1,622 $41
25th Percentile $77,689 $6,474 $1,494 $37
Check out Medical Laboratory Scientist Job Openings in the United States
Medical Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Sonora Quest Laboratories - SUSANVILLE, CA

Medical Laboratory Scientist

Sonora Quest Laboratories - PHOENIX, AZ

Medical Laboratory Technician Scientist

Sonora Quest Laboratories - TUCSON, AZ

Medical Laboratory Technician Scientist

Sonora Quest Laboratories - PHOENIX, AZ

Search More Medical Laboratory Scientist Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Medical Laboratory Scientist Salaries

A Medical Laboratory Scientist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Medical Laboratory Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Medical Laboratory Scientist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $83,674
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $83,858
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $86,286
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $89,570
  • Expert (over 8 years): $89,805
Levels Salary
Entry Level Medical Laboratory Scientist$83,674
Intermediate Level Medical Laboratory Scientist$83,858
Senior Level Medical Laboratory Scientist$86,286
Specialist Level Medical Laboratory Scientist$89,570
Expert Level Medical Laboratory Scientist$89,805
$83,674 0 yr
$83,858 < 2 yrs
$86,286 2-4 yrs
$89,570 5-8 yrs
$89,805 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Medical Laboratory Scientists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $106,351
  • San Francisco: $105,305
  • Oakland: $102,970

What Skills Can Increase a Medical Laboratory Scientist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 4.54% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Hematology (Mentioned in 3.6% Job Postings): Hematology is the branch of medicine concerned with the study of the cause, prognosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases related to blood.
  • Medication Administration (Mentioned in 2.47% Job Postings): Medication administration is the direct application of a prescribed medication whether by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or other means to the body of the individual by an individual legally authorized to do so.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 4.54%
Hematology 3.6%
Medication Administration 2.47%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Medical Laboratory Scientist's salary.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaboration
$95,280
13%
Process Improvement
$93,594
11%
Insight
$91,064
8%
Phlebotomy
$90,221
7%
Analysis
$89,378
6%
Laboratory Testing
$89,378
6%
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How Education impacts a Medical Laboratory Scientist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Medical Laboratory Scientists enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Medical Laboratory Scientist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $77,314 and $81,158).

Medical Laboratory Scientist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Medical Laboratory Scientist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 1.4%
Associates 6.0%
Bachelors 81.6%
Masters 10.2%
Doctorate 0.5%
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Medical Laboratory Scientist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Medical Laboratory Scientist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Medical Laboratory Scientist

Salaries for a Medical Laboratory Scientist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $110,465 in 2023 to around $109,871 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Medical Laboratory Scientist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Medical Laboratory Scientist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$110,465
2024
$111,759
2025
$109,871
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $110,465
2024 $111,759
2025 $109,871
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Medical Laboratory Scientist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Medical Laboratory Scientist

Here are companies hiring for Medical Laboratory Scientist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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