Prevailing Wage for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
Prevailing wages for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians are set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. Whether your offer letter says Certified Clinical Laboratory Technician or Clinical Laboratory Technician (Clinical Lab Technician), the same SOC 29-2012 floor applies. DOL defines four experience levels, and the floor shifts significantly by worksite city.
See all jobs for this roleLook up your work address
Entry-level technicians with limited experience, typically recent graduates or those new to clinical lab work. DOL expects minimal independent judgment and close supervision. Most are still building competency in routine testing procedures and standard lab protocols.
Qualified technicians with practical experience performing routine tests independently. Level 2 is the most common LCA filing level for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians, reflecting the standard working professional who completes assigned procedures with general supervision.
Experienced technicians who handle complex testing assignments, troubleshoot equipment or procedural issues, and may train junior staff. DOL expects broader technical knowledge and reduced reliance on direct supervision compared to Level 2.
Fully competent senior technicians with specialized expertise, often in a lead or reference lab capacity. DOL expects independent authority over difficult cases, protocol development, or departmental quality oversight beyond routine testing.
Prevailing Wage for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
See all jobs for this role
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
Watch for MLT versus MT title mismatches
Some employers post a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) role but file the LCA under the Medical Technologist SOC instead. That swap changes the prevailing wage floor entirely, so confirm the SOC code on the certified LCA before accepting an offer.
Factor in shift differentials before comparing offers
Clinical lab roles frequently include evening, overnight, or weekend differentials that inflate total pay but do not count toward the prevailing wage floor. Compare the base hourly rate, not total compensation, against the applicable level floor for your worksite.
Compare sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate before applying
Hospital systems, reference labs like national chains, and independent clinics sponsor lab technician roles at very different rates. Migrate Mate shows which employers have a history of sponsoring this occupation, helping you target proven sponsors rather than guessing.
Check Puerto Rico metros separately from mainland floors
DOL OES data for Aguadilla, Arecibo, and Ponce produces prevailing wage floors well below most U.S. mainland metros for this occupation. If a sponsor's worksite is in Puerto Rico, the LCA must cite that specific area wage, not a national or mainland figure.
Jobs for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-2012.00 alongside Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Certified Clinical Laboratory Technician Prevailing Wage
Certified Clinical Laboratory Technician Prevailing Wage
Certified Clinical Laboratory Technician positions fall under SOC 29-2012.00 (Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Clinical Laboratory Technician (Clinical Lab Technician) Prevailing Wage
Clinical Laboratory Technician (Clinical Lab Technician) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Clinical Laboratory Technician (Clinical Lab Technician) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-2012.00 (Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Laboratory Assistant (Lab Assistant) Prevailing Wage
Laboratory Assistant (Lab Assistant) Prevailing Wage
Laboratory Assistant (Lab Assistant) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-2012.00 (Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech) Prevailing Wage
Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech) Prevailing Wage
Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech) positions fall under SOC 29-2012.00 (Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) Prevailing Wage
Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-2012.00 (Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Medical Laboratory Technicians (Medical Lab Technician) Prevailing Wage
Medical Laboratory Technicians (Medical Lab Technician) Prevailing Wage
Medical Laboratory Technicians (Medical Lab Technician) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-2012.00 (Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Medical Technician Prevailing Wage
Medical Technician Prevailing Wage
Medical Technician positions fall under SOC 29-2012.00 (Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 29-2012, the agency calculates four wage levels based on experience and complexity. Employers filing an LCA for a sponsored lab technician must pay at least the level that matches the actual job duties and experience required.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
The four levels reflect experience and independence. Level 1 covers entry-level technicians under close supervision. Level 2 is the qualified working professional, which is the most common filing level in this occupation. Level 3 applies to technicians handling complex assignments with limited oversight. Level 4 covers senior or lead roles with departmental authority. The employer selects the level that matches the job description on the LCA, and USCIS reviews that selection during adjudication.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same lab technician role vary so much from city to city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional OES surveys, so local labor market conditions drive the floor. A worksite in San Jose produces a much higher floor than one in a rural area because the survey captures actual wages paid in that metro. The LCA must cite the worksite location specifically, not a national average. This means two offers with identical titles can have very different compliance floors depending solely on where the lab is located.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
If the offered wage falls below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite, the employer cannot lawfully certify the LCA. OFLC will not approve an LCA showing a wage below the floor, and USCIS will deny or issue a Request for Evidence on the H-1B or PERM petition. The employer must either raise the offered salary to meet the floor or reclassify the position at a level consistent with the actual pay, assuming the duties support that level.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location for this role?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 29-2012 wages by metropolitan area. Select the worksite metro and the experience level matching your role to see the current floor. For jobs already posted, Migrate Mate lists employers with a documented history of sponsoring lab technician roles, so you can identify which companies have filed before and then verify the applicable wage through OFLC Wage Search for your specific city.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians right now.
Search Jobs for this role