by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Laboratory Sciences & Medical Technology covers Clinical Laboratory Science/medical Technology/technologist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Conduct And Supervise Complex Medical Tests, Clinical Trials, And Research Experiments; Manage Clinical Laboratories; And Consult With Physicians And Clinical Researchers On Diagnoses, Disease Causation And Spread, And Research Outcomes. Includes Instruction In The Theory And Practice Of Hematology, Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology, Immunology, Immunohematology, Physiological Relationships To Test Results, Laboratory Procedures And Quality Assurance Controls, Test And Research Design And Implementation, Analytic Techniques, Laboratory Management, Data Development And Reporting, Medical Informatics, And Professional Standards And Regulations. Read on to learn the essential details every laboratory sciences & medical technology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering laboratory sciences & medical technology programs.
In the U.S., laboratory sciences & medical technology draws strong interest, with 3,893 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Laboratory Sciences & Medical Technology Schools ranking analyzes these 236 schools to determine the best overall colleges for laboratory sciences & medical technology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of laboratory sciences & medical technology programs later in this article.
Coursework for Laboratory Sciences & Medical Technology build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations laboratory sciences & medical technology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a laboratory sciences & medical technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a laboratory sciences & medical technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several laboratory sciences & medical technology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 75 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 52 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,060 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 684 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 22 |
People currently working in careers related to laboratory sciences & medical technology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 49.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 19.2% |
| Master’s degree | 11.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 3.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.9% |
| Some college courses | 1.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.0% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in laboratory sciences & medical technology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in laboratory sciences & medical technology can lead to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to laboratory sciences & medical technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to laboratory sciences & medical technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cytotechnologists | 2,585,436 | 10.3% |
| Cytogenetic Technologists | 2,100,694 | 1.9% |
| Histotechnologists | 1,678,341 | 4.1% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists | 678,933 | 3.9% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of laboratory sciences & medical technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $42,942 |
| 4 years | $39,910 |
| 5 years | $44,672 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for laboratory sciences & medical technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers laboratory sciences & medical technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Cytotechnologists | $155,812 |
| Cytogenetic Technologists | $155,361 |
| Histotechnologists | $125,527 |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists | $77,339 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 236 different laboratory sciences & medical technology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased laboratory sciences & medical technology school rankings to help you.
Those considering laboratory sciences & medical technology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
