by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Clinical/Medical Laboratory Assistant covers Clinical/medical Laboratory Assistant. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of Physicians Or Laboratory Scientists Or Technologists, To Perform Waived Testing Procedures (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments Of 1988), Phlebotomy, And Other Duties In Support Of Laboratory Teams. Includes Instruction In Clinical Procedures, Various Laboratory Tests, Laboratory Mathematics, Computer Technology, Equipment Operation And Maintenance, Sterilization And Safety, Communications Skills, And Interpersonal Skills. Read on to learn the key facts every clinical/medical laboratory assistant major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering clinical/medical laboratory assistant programs.
Nationwide, clinical/medical laboratory assistant draws strong interest, with 614 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Clinical/Medical Laboratory Assistant Schools ranking analyzes these 31 schools to determine the best overall colleges for clinical/medical laboratory assistant students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of clinical/medical laboratory assistant programs later in this article.
Coursework for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Assistant develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations clinical/medical laboratory assistant graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a clinical/medical laboratory assistant program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a clinical/medical laboratory assistant major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several clinical/medical laboratory assistant degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 38 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 318 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 13 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 212 |
People currently working in careers related to clinical/medical laboratory assistant tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 34.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 16.3% |
| Master’s degree | 9.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 9.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 7.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.5% |
| Some college courses | 6.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.6% |
| First professional degree | 2.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in clinical/medical laboratory assistant careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in clinical/medical laboratory assistant opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to clinical/medical laboratory assistant.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to clinical/medical laboratory assistant.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Histology Technicians | 2,948,902 | -0.2% |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | 1,550,596 | 12.4% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of clinical/medical laboratory assistant graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $27,434 |
| 4 years | $29,082 |
| 5 years | $32,352 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for clinical/medical laboratory assistant graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers clinical/medical laboratory assistant grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | $155,908 |
| Histology Technicians | $80,721 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 31 different clinical/medical laboratory assistant programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased clinical/medical laboratory assistant school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in clinical/medical laboratory assistant, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical/Clinical Assistant | 52,819 |
| Pharmacy Technician/Assistant | 7,541 |
| Physical Therapy Assistant | 5,633 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other | 4,065 |
| Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance) | 3,923 |
| Occupational Therapist Assistant | 3,178 |
| Radiologist Assistant | 1,513 |
| Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant | 431 |
| Anesthesiologist Assistant | 423 |
| Speech-Language Pathology Assistant | 363 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
