Job Description - Laboratory Technician:
A laboratory technician performs laboratory tests and procedures, usually under the supervision of a laboratory technologist or a laboratory manager. These tests and procedures help medical professionals diagnose diseases, plan treatments and ascertain the effectiveness of treatments.
Employment Facts - Laboratory Technician:
There were 156,000 laboratory technicians employed in 2008.
Educational Requirements - Laboratory Technician:
To work as a laboratory technician one must earn an associate degree, generally at a community college. Alternatively one can earn a certificate from a hospital, a vocational or technical school, or the Armed Forces.
Other Requirements - Laboratory Technician:
Some states require laboratory technicians to be licensed.
Advancement Opportunities - Laboratory Technician:
Laboratory technicians, with additional education and experience, can become laboratory technologists.
Job Outlook - Laboratory Technician:
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that job growth in this field will be greater than the average for all occupations through 2018
Earnings - Laboratory Technician:
Laboratory technicians earned a median annual salary of $36,030 in 2009.
Use the Salary Wizard at Salary.com to find out how much a Laboratory Technician currently earns in your city.
A Day in a Laboratory Technician's Life:
On a typical day a laboratory technician's tasks might include:
- examining and analyzing body fluids and cells
- preparing specimans for examination
- counting cells and looking for abnormalities
- using automated equipment and computerized instruments
- using microscopes, cell counters, and other sophisticated laboratory equipment.
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Clinical Laboratory Technicians, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos096.htm (visited January 25, 2010).
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET Online, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians, on the Internet at http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/29-2012.00 (visited November 29, 2010).
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