As of 2010, more than half of laboratory personnel work in a hospital.
Medical technicians are also called clinical laboratory technicians, or medical laboratory technicians, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. They prepare specimens for analyzing or testing in a laboratory setting, under the supervision of a technologist or laboratory manager. Medical technicians earn an hourly rate, plus overtime and bonuses.
Average Hourly Rate
As of 2010, medical laboratory technicians earn an hourly average of between $14 and $19 an hour, with overtime wages averaging between $19 and $29 an hour, according to PayScale. Annual bonuses can add between $200 and $1,000 to a technician's salary, making the total yearly income range from $30,000 to $42,000.
Salary Average Based on Experience
As of 2010, the more experienced a medical technician is, the more money she makes. A technician who's new to the field and has less than a year of experience can expect to earn between $11 and $16 an hour, according to PayScale. After 10 years in the industry, she can make between $16 and $20 an hour, and after 20 years, she can make $17 to $22 an hour.
Medical Benefits
As of 2010, fewer than a quarter of medical laboratory technicians don't receive medical benefits, according to PayScale. Of the technicians who report getting benefits, 78 percent receive medical insurance, 64 percent receive dental insurance and 46 percent receive vision benefits.
Job Outlook
Jobs are expected to grow by 14 percent from 2008 to 2010, says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Increases in job opportunities will be due, in part, to new laboratory testing methods and an aging population. Jobs are also predicted to be greater in number than the applicants filling them because of a high turn-over rate, as employees leave these jobs to pursue others.
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