Medical Laboratory Scientist Jobs in Illinois
Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Illinois are in strong demand, concentrated across hospital systems, academic medical centers, public health laboratories, and independent reference labs, with openings at every level from entry-level generalists through senior specialists and laboratory managers. Chicago, Springfield, and Peoria are the primary hiring hubs, where employers such as Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Health Care, and AMITA Health maintain large laboratory operations. The most in-demand specialties in Illinois listings are clinical chemistry, hematology, and microbiology, reflecting the diagnostic volume of the state's major health systems. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 27+ Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs
Work Schedule:
90% FTE, 7am - 730pm, 3 days a week. Rotating weekends and holidays. You will work at UW Health Belvidere Hospital 1625 S State St Belvidere IL.
We are currently seeking a Medical Lab Technician/Scientist to:
- Perform diagnostic laboratory testing across multiple specialties, helping provide critical results that support patient diagnosis and treatment.
- Utilize advanced laboratory technology and instrumentation while ensuring the highest standards of quality, accuracy, and reliability.
- Partner with physicians, caregivers, and laboratory professionals to deliver timely information that impacts patient care. Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement through quality assurance, troubleshooting, process enhancement, and ongoing professional development.
Additional components of compensation may include:
Evening, night, and weekend shift differential
Overtime
On-call pay
At UW Health in northern Illinois, you will have:
- Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits package including: PTO, Medical, Dental, Vision, retirement, short and long-term disability, paternity leave, adoption assistance, tuition assistance
- Annual wellness reimbursement
- Opportunity for on-site day care through UW Health Kids
- Tuition reimbursement for career advancement-ask about our fully funded programs!
- Abundant career growth opportunities to nurture professional development
- Strong shared governance structure
- Commitment to employee voice
- Associate's Degree in laboratory science or medical technology. Required
- Must provide copy of HS diploma or equivalent, or highest level of completed degree obtained. Required
- One year experience as a Medical Laboratory Technician or relevant laboratory experience. Preferred
- Medical Laboratory Technician certification by the board of American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) or similar agency preferred. Preferred
Work Schedule:
90% FTE, 7am - 730pm, 3 days a week. Rotating weekends and holidays. You will work at UW Health Belvidere Hospital 1625 S State St Belvidere IL.
We are currently seeking a Medical Lab Technician/Scientist to:
- Perform diagnostic laboratory testing across multiple specialties, helping provide critical results that support patient diagnosis and treatment.
- Utilize advanced laboratory technology and instrumentation while ensuring the highest standards of quality, accuracy, and reliability.
- Partner with physicians, caregivers, and laboratory professionals to deliver timely information that impacts patient care. Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement through quality assurance, troubleshooting, process enhancement, and ongoing professional development.
Additional components of compensation may include:
Evening, night, and weekend shift differential
Overtime
On-call pay
At UW Health in northern Illinois, you will have:
- Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits package including: PTO, Medical, Dental, Vision, retirement, short and long-term disability, paternity leave, adoption assistance, tuition assistance
- Annual wellness reimbursement
- Opportunity for on-site day care through UW Health Kids
- Tuition reimbursement for career advancement-ask about our fully funded programs!
- Abundant career growth opportunities to nurture professional development
- Strong shared governance structure
- Commitment to employee voice
- Associate's Degree in laboratory science or medical technology. Required
- Must provide copy of HS diploma or equivalent, or highest level of completed degree obtained. Required
- One year experience as a Medical Laboratory Technician or relevant laboratory experience. Preferred
- Medical Laboratory Technician certification by the board of American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) or similar agency preferred. Preferred
See All 27 Medical Laboratory Scientist Jobs in Illinois
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Find JobsMedical Laboratory Scientist Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Medical Laboratory Scientist Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Endeavor Health11
- Northwestern Medicine4
- Rush University Medical Center3
- Mercyhealth2
- Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Systems2
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in medical laboratory scientist jobs across Illinois.
- Active Illinois clinical laboratory technologist license or eligibility through the Illinois Department of Public Health
- Bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science, clinical laboratory science, or closely related biomedical field
- ASCP Board of Certification (MLS or equivalent) credential required or strongly preferred by most employers
- Minimum one to two years of clinical laboratory experience in a high-volume hospital or reference lab setting
- Demonstrated proficiency in at least one core discipline such as hematology, microbiology, or clinical chemistry
- Ability to rotate across laboratory departments including blood bank, urinalysis, and point-of-care testing
Medical Laboratory Scientist Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a medical laboratory scientist in Illinois?
To work as a medical laboratory scientist in Illinois, you must obtain licensure through the Illinois Department of Public Health as a clinical laboratory technologist. Licensure requires a bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science or a closely related field from an accredited program, completion of an approved clinical internship, and passing a recognized national certification exam such as the ASCP Board of Certification MLS examination. Most Illinois employers treat active IDPH licensure as a non-negotiable hiring requirement.
Which companies hire medical laboratory scientists in Illinois?
Employers hiring medical laboratory scientists in Illinois right now include Endeavor Health, Northwestern Medicine, and Rush University Medical Center, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Illinois's large integrated health systems and its concentration of academic medical centers in the Chicago metropolitan area generate consistent laboratory staffing demand throughout the year.
Which Illinois cities have the most medical laboratory scientist jobs?
Evanston, Arlington Heights, and Chicago have the most medical laboratory scientist openings in Illinois right now. Chicago dominates the distribution because of the density of major health systems, academic medical centers, and reference laboratories headquartered there, while Springfield and Peoria reflect the large regional hospital networks that anchor healthcare employment in central and downstate Illinois.
Are there remote medical laboratory scientist jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they are rare. Medical laboratory science is fundamentally a hands-on role requiring direct specimen handling, instrumentation, and on-site quality control, which limits remote options substantially. About 0% of medical laboratory scientist openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and those positions are typically concentrated in laboratory informatics, pathology data review, or laboratory management roles rather than bench work.
How can I get hired as a medical laboratory scientist in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to new-graduate laboratory rotational programs at large Illinois health systems such as Northwestern Medicine and Advocate Health Care, which periodically hire new graduates into structured orientation tracks. Candidates who hold or are eligible for IDPH clinical laboratory technologist licensure and ASCP certification have a clear advantage even without post-graduation experience. Moving laterally from a phlebotomist, laboratory assistant, or histotechnician role within a large Illinois hospital is another well-established route, as internal candidates are frequently considered for open MLS positions.
Where can I find and apply to medical laboratory scientist jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to medical laboratory scientist jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings from employers across the state. Find the roles that fit your credentials and experience and apply directly to the ones that interest you.
See All 27 Medical Laboratory Scientist Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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