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Boston Career Explorer

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

Perform complex medical laboratory tests for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May train or supervise staff.

Also called: Clinical Chemist, Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS), Clinical Laboratory Technologist, Histologist Technologist, Lab Tech (Laboratory Technologist), Medical Lab Technologist (Medical Laboratory Technologist)

Median pay in Greater Boston
$79,480
$38.21/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
8,710
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−0.9%
790 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$47,910$54,020$79,480$100,940$107,260

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Analyze samples of biological material for chemical content or reaction.
  • Analyze laboratory findings to check the accuracy of the results.
  • Conduct chemical analysis of body fluids, including blood, urine, or spinal fluid, to determine presence of normal or abnormal components.
  • Enter data from analysis of medical tests or clinical results into computer for storage.
  • Collect and study blood samples to determine the number of cells, their morphology, or their blood group, blood type, or compatibility for transfusion purposes, using microscopic techniques.
  • Set up, clean, and maintain laboratory equipment.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure39 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 49
  • Language-model AIOE 41
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 26

Observed AI use today: Not published (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is moderate. AI tools may help with analyzing results, checking accuracy, and entering data. Handling real samples, such as blood and body fluids, and using a microscope still rely on trained people. Massachusetts job numbers are projected to change little.

Likely to change

  • Entering test data into computers
  • Checking lab results for accuracy

Still relies on people

  • Handling blood and body fluid samples
  • Examining cells under a microscope

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

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    Pay difference
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    Pay difference
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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

7 programs near Boston (plus 2 graduate)

Related occupations

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