Lab Associate Jobs in Illinois
Lab Associate jobs in Illinois are concentrated in Chicago, Rockford, and the Quad Cities, where major employers like Abbott Laboratories, Advocate Health, and Argonne National Laboratory maintain steady demand across clinical, research, and quality-control settings. Openings range from entry-level bench positions to experienced roles in molecular diagnostics, environmental testing, and pharmaceutical quality assurance. Illinois is among the most active lab hiring markets in the Midwest, drawing candidates at every level of training and specialization. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Be a part of a world-class academic healthcare system, Ingalls Memorial Hospital , as a Clinical Lab Associate 2 (Phlebotomist) in the Lab Service Center department. Here, you will be performing phlebotomy tasks, providing order entry, central processing, EKG’s, performing laboratory testing, and will also be assisting with DOT’s and BAT’s as needed. This department is in the Laboratory Service Center. This position is a 100% onsite opportunity. You will need to be based in the greater Chicagoland area.
Essential Job Functions
- Performs assigned supportive work in conjunction with the delivery of patient care, involving multiple office, clerical, technical duties, venipuncture, blood specimen collection, obtain EKG, and functional skills.
- Interact, intervene, and problem solve to ensure exceptional customer service by greeting patients, responding to telephone inquiries, phones/faxes/distributes test results.
- Processes human specimens for delivery to specific laboratory departments for testing.
- Performs technical procedures, for which training has been given and competency demonstrated.
- Utilizes interactive processes which will contribute to exceeding the expectations of patients, physicians, families or significant others in the provision of high-quality, cost-effective care and treatments.
- Demonstrates necessary skills and knowledge to provide care for patients according to unit specific competencies.
- Various degrees of unpredictability can occur from day to day which will require the individual to adapt by adjusting as required in work schedules and assignments.
- Demonstrates a working knowledge of the HIS and LIS systems, and progress to functional capabilities with the hospital billing computer systems. Will be required to learn to run lab testing.
Required Qualifications
- High School diploma or equivalent
- Must have completed accredited phlebotomy course or program AHA CPR Certification
Preferred Qualifications
Successful completion of accredited phlebotomy program or certification by:
- ASCP (American Society of Clinical Pathologists)
- AMT (American Medical Technologist)
- NCCLS (National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards)
- NPA (National Phlebotomy Association)
- ASCLS (American Society for Clinical Laboratory Scientists)
- NCA (National Certifying Agency)
- NHA (National Healthcare Association)
- Inpatient and Outpatient phlebotomy experience is preferred.
Position Details
- Job Type/FTE: Full-Time (1.0 FTE)
- Shift: Various Day Shift
- Location: Harvey, IL
- Unit/Department: Lab Service Center CBA Code: SEIU
In this role, we anticipate that you will generally work approximately 40 hours per week. We anticipate that you will generally be scheduled to work an 8-hour day shift, with varying start times between 5:00am and 7:00am, and will not be scheduled for on-call shifts. We anticipate you will be scheduled to work 100% at the Ingalls campus. The days of the week that you are scheduled will vary depending on the week, but we anticipate that you will be scheduled to work on weekends (Saturday and/or Sunday) every other week.
1 Ingalls Dr, Harvey, IL 60426
UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital has pioneered sophisticated clinical care for nearly a century while developing the area's most convenient network of comprehensive outpatient centers. Our skilled medical team is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the community. We're also committed to preventing, diagnosing, treating and rehabilitating your illness and injury. Our network of expert physicians, convenient facilities and wide range of services means we offer exceptional care when and where you need it.
In addition to our inpatient care, we provide an array of other services, including on-site X-rays, mammography, laboratory services, cancer screening, other radiology services, and echo and stress testing.
See All 11 Lab Associate Jobs in Illinois
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Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Lab Associate Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
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What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in lab associate jobs across Illinois.
- Associate or bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science, biology, or chemistry
- Certification as a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) or Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) through ASCP or AMT
- Familiarity with laboratory information systems and standard specimen processing procedures
- Experience with quality control protocols and regulatory compliance under CLIA standards
- Ability to follow established safety procedures including proper PPE use and hazardous material handling
- Strong attention to detail and accurate data entry skills for specimen tracking and result documentation
Lab Associate Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a lab associate in Illinois?
Most lab associate roles in Illinois require at least an associate degree in medical laboratory technology, clinical laboratory science, or a related science field. Illinois does not issue a separate state lab license, but most employers require national certification through the American Society for Clinical Pathology or American Medical Technologists before or shortly after hire. Community colleges across the Chicago metro and downstate Illinois offer accredited MLT programs that include clinical rotations at affiliated hospitals.
Which companies hire lab associates in Illinois?
Illinois lab associate roles are posted by UChicago Medicine, Quest Diagnostics, and Innoved Institute and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's dense concentration of hospital systems, biotech firms, and federal research facilities means consistent openings appear across both the Chicago metro and downstate research corridors.
Which Illinois cities have the most lab associate jobs?
Harvey, Elk Grove Village, and Alton have the most lab associate openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates because of its large academic medical centers, commercial diagnostic labs, and pharmaceutical headquarters, while Rockford and other secondary metros reflect the regional hospital networks and manufacturing quality-control labs that anchor hiring outside the city.
Are there remote lab associate jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. Lab associate work is largely hands-on, requiring physical specimen handling, instrument operation, and on-site quality checks that can't be performed remotely. About 0% of lab associate openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those positions tend to be in data review, lab informatics, or administrative coordination roles rather than bench work.
How can I get hired as a lab associate in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a lab assistant or specimen processor position at a Chicago-area hospital or regional reference lab, which typically requires only a high school diploma and on-the-job training. Large Illinois health systems such as Advocate Health and Northwestern Medicine run new-grad and transition programs that move candidates into full lab associate roles after a structured training period. Pursuing MLT certification through an Illinois community college program, even part-time, gives candidates a clear edge over those without formal credentials.
Where can I find and apply to lab associate jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to lab associate jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your background and location, and apply directly to the positions that fit.
See All 11 Lab Associate Jobs in Illinois
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