Occupations · Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 29-2012.00

Pay over time

Median up 32% between 2003 and 2016, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Conduct blood tests for transfusion purposes and perform blood counts.
Conduct chemical analyses of body fluids, such as blood or urine, using microscope or automatic analyzer to detect abnormalities or diseases and enter findings into computer.
Analyze the results of tests or experiments to ensure conformity to specifications, using special mechanical or electrical devices.
Set up, maintain, calibrate, clean, and test sterility of medical laboratory equipment.
Obtain specimens, cultivating, isolating, and identifying microorganisms for analysis.
Prepare standard volumetric solutions or reagents to be combined with samples, following standardized formulas or experimental procedures.
Examine cells stained with dye to locate abnormalities.
Consult with a pathologist to determine a final diagnosis when abnormal cells are found.
Perform medical research to further control or cure disease.
Test raw materials, processes, or finished products to determine quality or quantity of materials or characteristics of a substance.
Collect blood or tissue samples from patients, observing principles of asepsis to obtain blood sample.
Analyze and record test data to issue reports that use charts, graphs, or narratives.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Active Listening3.9

Reading Comprehension3.5

Critical Thinking3.4

Speaking3.4

Science3.2

Monitoring3.1

Writing3.1

Active Learning3.0

Learning Strategies2.9

Mathematics2.8

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Google Docs●MEDITECH software●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Word●SAP software●Billing softwareCommercial plate reader softwareData entry softwareDatabase softwareElectronic medical record EMR softwareEmail softwareFileMaker ProHematology laboratory workflow management softwareIBM NotesLaboratory information system LISMedical digital imaging softwareMedical system integration softwareMicroscopic image capturing softwareMinitabNational Instruments LabVIEWQuality control softwareQuizletReimbursement screening softwareSpecimen tracking softwareSunquest Information Systems Sunquest Laboratory

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

3 / 5Medium preparation — vocational training or an associate degree, plus 1–2 years of work.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Exposed to Disease or Infections+2.2 above average

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets+1.8 above average

Exposed to Hazardous Conditions+1.7 above average

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions−1.3 below average

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment−1.2 below average

Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled−1.2 below average

Importance of Repeating Same Tasks+1.1 above average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2014-07

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Bachelor's Degree46%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)31%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.10%

Master's Degree7%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2014-07

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Realistic6.0

Investigative5.9

Conventional4.8

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

Tasks O*NET flags as emerging

Perform quality control analyses to ensure accuracy of test results.

O*NET 30.3 emerging tasks

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Time Management3.1

Operations Monitoring3.1

Complex Problem Solving3.1

Instructing3.1

Quality Control Analysis3.1

Social Perceptiveness3.0

Coordination3.0

Service Orientation3.0

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

BiologyChemistryEnglish LanguageMathematicsCustomer and Personal ServicePublic Safety and Security

Abilities it leans on

Near VisionInformation OrderingOral ExpressionProblem SensitivityOral ComprehensionWritten Comprehension

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

Blood TyperBiotechnicianHistologic AideHistotechnicianSleep TechnicianLaboratory WorkerTissue TechnicianMedical TechnicianSpecimen ProcessorSpecimen CollectorVascular TechnicianSerology TechnicianHistology TechnicianSpecimen Accessioner

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 3 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 9

+Sunquest Information Systems Sunquest Laboratory+FileMaker Pro+Minitab+National Instruments LabVIEW+Quizlet+IBM Notes+Google Docs+Microsoft Outlook+Data entry software

No longer listed 3

−Medical software−Word processing software−Spreadsheet software

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

Blood TyperPhlebotomistBiotechnicianHistologic AideHistotechnicianSleep TechnicianLaboratory WorkerTissue TechnicianSpecimen ProcessorSpecimen CollectorMedical TechnicianSerology Technician

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
medical laboratory assistant	3212.2	close
anatomical pathology technician	3212.1.1	close
bacteriology technician	3141.2.1	close
biochemistry technician	3141.2.2	close
cytology screener	3212.1.2	close
biomedical scientist	3212.1	close
scientific laboratory technician	3141.2	close

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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