by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Laboratory Technician involves the study of Clinical/medical Laboratory Technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of Clinical Laboratory Scientists/medical Technologists, To Perform Routine Medical Laboratory Procedures And Tests And To Apply Preset Strategies To Record And Analyze Data. Includes Instruction In General Laboratory Procedures And Skills; Laboratory Mathematics; Medical Computer Applications; Interpersonal And Communications Skills; And The Basic Principles Of Hematology, Medical Microbiology, Immunohematology, Immunology, Clinical Chemistry, And Urinalysis. Continue reading for the key facts every laboratory technician student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering laboratory technician programs.
Nationwide, laboratory technician is a popular field of study, with 3,329 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Laboratory Technician Schools ranking analyzes these 258 schools to determine the best overall colleges for laboratory technician students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of laboratory technician programs later in this article.
Programs in Laboratory Technician build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations laboratory technician graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a laboratory technician program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a laboratory technician major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several laboratory technician 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 | 62 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,392 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 159 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 353 |
People currently working in careers related to laboratory technician tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 34.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 16.3% |
| Master’s degree | 9.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 9.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 7.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.5% |
| Some college courses | 6.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.6% |
| First professional degree | 2.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in laboratory technician careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in laboratory technician opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to laboratory technician.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to laboratory technician.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Histology Technicians | 2,948,902 | -0.2% |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | 1,550,596 | 12.4% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of laboratory technician graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 technician graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers laboratory technician grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | $155,908 |
| Histology Technicians | $80,721 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 258 different laboratory technician programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased laboratory technician school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in laboratory technician, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
