Clinical Laboratory Technician: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Prepared to support diagnostic healthcare teams, this program equips students with the foundational knowledge and hands-on expertise required to perform essential laboratory tests under professional supervision. Graduates are trained to contribute accurately and efficiently to clinical workflows, ensuring reliable data that informs patient care decisions.
- General Laboratory Procedures and Skills: Mastery of standard lab techniques including specimen collection, handling, labeling, and quality control protocols essential for safe and consistent operations.
- Laboratory Mathematics: Application of quantitative principles to calculate concentrations, dilutions, and test results with precision in clinical settings.
- Medical Computer Applications: Proficiency in laboratory information systems (LIS) and electronic health records (EHR) to manage data, track samples, and ensure compliance with digital reporting standards.
- Interpersonal and Communications Skills: Development of professional communication abilities to collaborate effectively with healthcare providers, patients, and laboratory staff in fast-paced environments.
- Hematology: Study of blood components and disorders, including complete blood count (CBC) analysis and the identification of abnormal cell morphology.
- Medical Microbiology: Focus on identifying and characterizing bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites through culture, staining, and sensitivity testing.
- Immunohematology: Training in blood typing, crossmatching, and antibody screening to ensure safe blood transfusions and prevent adverse reactions.
- Immunology: Understanding of immune system function and laboratory methods used to detect antibodies, antigens, and immune-related disorders.
- Clinical Chemistry: Analysis of biochemical substances in bodily fluids to assess organ function, metabolic status, and disease markers.
- Urinalysis: Comprehensive evaluation of urine samples to detect abnormalities related to kidney function, metabolic conditions, and infections.
Clinical Laboratory Technician Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Clinical Laboratory Technician Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Clinical Laboratory Technician degrees, including Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 229,720 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1071 | $105,620 | $51,760 - $239,200 | 229,720 | N/A |
Clinical Laboratory Technician Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $48,090 in Hawaii to $178,830 in Arkansas—a 272% difference. The highest-paying states include Arkansas, District of Columbia, and Utah. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 229,720 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Clinical Laboratory Technician by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Clinical Laboratory Technician programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Clinical Laboratory Technician is found at Weber State University (WSU) (161 graduates), Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC) (84 graduates), South College (71 graduates), West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) (49 graduates), and Tidewater Community College (TCC) (42 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,297 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
161 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC) |
Residency
|
84 | Ashland, Kentucky | Public | ashland.kctcs.edu |
| South College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
71 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Private | south.edu |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) |
Residency
|
49 | Paducah, Kentucky | Public | westkentucky.kctcs.edu |
| Tidewater Community College (TCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
42 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | tcc.edu |
| Tulsa Community College (TCC) |
Associate's
Residency
|
41 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Public | tulsacc.edu |
| Keiser University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
39 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | keiseruniversity.edu |
| Maysville Community and Technical College (MCTC) |
Associate's
Residency
|
39 | Maysville, Kentucky | Public | maysville.kctcs.edu |
| San Diego Miramar College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
37 | San Diego, California | Public | sdmiramar.edu |
| Auburn University (AUM) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Montgomery, Alabama | Public | aum.edu |
| Virginia Western Community College (VWCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
35 | Roanoke, Virginia | Public | virginiawestern.edu |
| Miami Dade College (MDC) |
Associate's
|
34 | Miami, Florida | Public | mdc.edu |
| Danville Community College (DCC) |
Other Award
|
34 | Danville, Virginia | Public | danville.edu |
| Somerset Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
Residency
|
33 | Somerset, Kentucky | Public | somerset.kctcs.edu |
| Weatherford College (WC) |
Other Award
|
33 | Weatherford, Texas | Public | wc.edu |
| Hazard Community and Technical College (HCTC) |
Residency
|
32 | Hazard, Kentucky | Public | hazard.kctcs.edu |
| St Philip's College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
32 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | alamo.edu |
| Hopkinsville Community College (HCC) |
Residency
|
31 | Hopkinsville, Kentucky | Public | hopkinsville.kctcs.edu |
| CUNY Bronx Community College (BCC) |
Associate's
|
31 | Bronx, New York | Public | bcc.cuny.edu |
| Southeastern Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
30 | Whiteville, North Carolina | Public | sccnc.edu |
| Casper College |
Associate's
|
29 | Casper, Wyoming | Public | caspercollege.edu |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College |
Associate's
|
28 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | reynolds.edu |
| San Jacinto Community College |
Associate's
|
27 | Pasadena, Texas | Public | sanjac.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Associate's
|
26 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| Wytheville Community College (WCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
26 | Wytheville, Virginia | Public | wcc.vccs.edu |
| Jefferson State Community College (JSCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
25 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | jeffersonstate.edu |
| Phoenix College (PC) |
Associate's
|
25 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | phoenixcollege.edu |
| Hillsborough Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
25 | Tampa, Florida | Public | hccfl.edu |
| Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
25 | Annandale, Virginia | Public | nvcc.edu |
| College of the Canyons |
Associate's
|
24 | Santa Clarita, California | Public | canyons.edu |
| Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science |
Postbac Cert.
|
24 | Rochester, Minnesota | Private | college.mayo.edu |
| Mercer County Community College (MCCC) |
Associate's
|
24 | West Windsor, New Jersey | Public | mccc.edu |
| Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) |
Associate's
|
24 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | cnm.edu |
| Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) |
Associate's
|
23 | Walnut, California | Public | mtsac.edu |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC) |
Associate's
Residency
|
23 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | jefferson.kctcs.edu |
| Regan Career Institute (RCI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
23 | El Monte, California | Private | rci.edu |
| Gadsden State Community College (GSCC) |
Associate's
|
22 | Gadsden, Alabama | Public | gadsdenstate.edu |
| SUNY Broome Community College |
Associate's
|
22 | Binghamton, New York | Public | sunybroome.edu |
| Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) |
Associate's
|
22 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | ccp.edu |
| Barton County Community College |
Associate's
|
21 | Great Bend, Kansas | Public | bartonccc.edu |
| Mountain Empire Community College (MECC) |
Other Award
|
21 | Big Stone Gap, Virginia | Public | mecc.edu |
| Grayson College |
Associate's
|
20 | Denison, Texas | Public | grayson.edu |
| Brookline College |
Associate's
|
19 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | brooklinecollege.edu |
| Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO A&M) |
Associate's
|
19 | Miami, Oklahoma | Public | neo.edu |
| Tarleton State University (TSU) |
Associate's
|
19 | Stephenville, Texas | Public | tarleton.edu |
| Tyler Junior College (TJC) |
Associate's
|
19 | Tyler, Texas | Public | tjc.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| Spartanburg Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
|
18 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | Public | sccsc.edu |
| South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) |
Associate's
|
18 | Lafayette, Louisiana | Public | solacc.edu |
| Southwest University |
Associate's
|
18 | El Paso, Texas | Private | southwestuniversity.edu |
| Merritt College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
17 | Oakland, California | Public | merritt.edu |
| Southwestern College (SWC) |
Associate's
|
17 | Chula Vista, California | Public | swccd.edu |
| Madisonville Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
Residency
|
17 | Madisonville, Kentucky | Public | madisonville.kctcs.edu |
| Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC) |
Residency
|
17 | Prestonsburg, Kentucky | Public | bigsandy.kctcs.edu |
| Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech) |
Associate's
|
17 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | waketech.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Associate's
|
17 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| George C Wallace State Community College |
Associate's
|
16 | Hanceville, Alabama | Public | wallacestate.edu |
| Henderson Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
Residency
|
16 | Henderson, Kentucky | Public | henderson.kctcs.edu |
| Saint Louis Community College (STLCC) |
Associate's
|
16 | Bridgeton, Missouri | Public | stlcc.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Postbac Cert.
|
16 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) |
Residency
|
16 | Owensboro, Kentucky | Public | owensboro.kctcs.edu |
| John C Calhoun State Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
15 | Tanner, Alabama | Public | calhoun.edu |
| Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) |
Residency
|
15 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | southcentral.kctcs.edu |
| Middlesex Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
15 | Bedford, Massachusetts | Public | middlesex.mass.edu |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) |
Associate's
|
15 | Perkinston, Mississippi | Public | mgccc.edu |
| Volunteer State Community College (Vol State) |
Associate's
|
15 | Gallatin, Tennessee | Public | volstate.edu |
| Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) |
Associate's
|
15 | Thomasville, Georgia | Public | southernregional.edu |
| Seward County Community College (SCCC) |
Associate's
|
14 | Liberal, Kansas | Public | sccc.edu |
| Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) |
Associate's
|
14 | Arnold, Maryland | Public | aacc.edu |
| Nassau Community College (NCC) |
Associate's
|
14 | Garden City, New York | Public | ncc.edu |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) |
Associate's
|
14 | Weatherford, Oklahoma | Public | swosu.edu |
| Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) |
Associate's
|
14 | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | Public | hacc.edu |
| Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) |
Associate's
|
14 | Warwick, Rhode Island | Public | ccri.edu |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College |
Associate's
|
14 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | southwest.tn.edu |
| Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology |
Associate's
|
14 | Delray Beach, Florida | Private | cambridgehealth.edu |
| Arkansas State University (ASU-Beebe) |
Associate's
|
13 | Beebe, Arkansas | Public | asub.edu |
| North Arkansas College (Northark) |
Associate's
|
13 | Harrison, Arkansas | Public | northark.edu |
| Saddleback College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
13 | Mission Viejo, California | Public | saddleback.edu |
| Albany State University (ASU) |
Associate's
|
13 | Albany, Georgia | Public | asurams.edu |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) |
Associate's
|
13 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Public | faytechcc.edu |
| Bismarck State College (BSC) |
Associate's
|
13 | Bismarck, North Dakota | Public | bismarckstate.edu |
| Lake Area Technical College (LATC) |
Associate's
|
13 | Watertown, South Dakota | Public | lakeareatech.edu |
| Shoreline Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
13 | Shoreline, Washington | Public | shoreline.edu |
| Madison Area Technical College |
Associate's
|
13 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | madisoncollege.edu |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) |
Associate's
|
13 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | matc.edu |
| Folsom Lake College (FLC) |
Associate's
|
13 | Folsom, California | Public | flc.losrios.edu |
| Fortis Institute |
Associate's
|
13 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | fortis.edu |
| Connecticut State Community College (CT State) |
Associate's
|
12 | Hartford, Connecticut | Public | ctstate.edu |
| West Georgia Technical College (WGTC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Waco, Georgia | Public | westgatech.edu |
| Oakton College |
Associate's
|
12 | Des Plaines, Illinois | Public | oakton.edu |
| North Hennepin Community College (NHCC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Brooklyn Park, Minnesota | Public | nhcc.edu |
| Southeast Community College Area (SCC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | southeast.edu |
| Dutchess Community College (DCC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Public | sunydutchess.edu |
| Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | cpcc.edu |
| Washington State Community College (WSCC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Marietta, Ohio | Public | wscc.edu |
| Rose State College (RSC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Midwest City, Oklahoma | Public | rose.edu |
| Trident Technical College (TTC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | tridenttech.edu |
| Amarillo College |
Associate's
|
12 | Amarillo, Texas | Public | actx.edu |
| Del Mar College (DMC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Public | delmar.edu |
| Clover Park Technical College (CPTC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Lakewood, Washington | Public | cptc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Clinical Laboratory Technician programs
How much can I earn with a Clinical Laboratory Technician degree?
Salaries for Clinical Laboratory Technician graduates vary by role and location. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $105,620 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Arkansas average $178,830 compared to $48,090 in Hawaii. Approximately 229,720 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Clinical Laboratory Technician programs?
Currently 258 accredited institutions offer Clinical Laboratory Technician degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Weber State University (WSU) (161 graduates), Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC) (84 graduates), and South College (71 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Clinical Laboratory Technician growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 3,414 in 2010 to a peak of 3,758 in 2020, before declining slightly to 3,329 in 2023-24. This represents a 2% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Clinical Laboratory Technician degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 229,720 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
Related Health Programs
Explore similar degree programs within the Health field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.
Nuclear Medical Technology
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of physicians, to employ radioactive and stable nuclides in diagnostic evaluations and therapeutic applications while...
Perfusion Technology
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of physicians and nurses, to operate extracorporeal circulation and autotransfusion equipment during medical procedures and...
Medical Radiologic Technology
A program that prepares individuals to administer prescribed courses of radiation treatment, manage patients undergoing radiation therapy, and maintain pertinent records. Includes instruction...
Respiratory Care Therapy
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of physicians, to assist in developing respiratory care plans, administer respiratory care procedures, supervise personnel...
Surgical Technology
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of physicians and surgical nurses, to maintain, monitor, and enforce the sterile field and adherence...
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of physicians, to utilize medical ultrasound techniques to gather sonographic data used to diagnose a...