Explore safer careers (5)
Lower estimated automation risk
Why it fits
Applies clinical protocols, specimens, consent workflows, source records, compliance, and outcome tracking.
Why it fits
Fits lab workers with data quality experience using clinical results, protocols, records, and validation checks.
Why it fits
Direct advancement using clinical testing, specimens, instruments, quality control, and lab safety.
Why it fits
Uses specimen collection context, labeling, patient interaction, handling standards, and lab handoff accuracy.
Why it fits
Reuses lab instruments, reagents, measurements, safety routines, documentation, and sample analysis.
Occupation snapshot
What does this snowflake show?
What's this?
We rate jobs using four factors. These are:
- Chance of being automated
- Job growth
- Wages
- Volume of available positions
These are some key things to think about when job hunting.
Risk & user votes
Calculated automation risk
Moderate Risk (41-60%): This occupation may be meaningfully affected by automation. Some parts of the role may be suitable for AI, software, or robotics, while others still rely on human skill, judgement, trust, or real-world context. People in this range may benefit from building skills that complement automation and reduce replacement risk.
More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.
Human strengths important in this job
These are human abilities and work contexts that are important in this occupation. They may help explain why parts of the role are harder to replace end-to-end, but they are not the only inputs into the automation score.
Decision-making and problem solving
Very importantWhy this matters
Assisting and caring for others
Quite importantWhy this matters
Coaching and developing others
Quite importantWhy this matters
Active learning
Quite importantWhy this matters
What users think
Based on 185 votes
Our visitors have voted they are unsure if this occupation will be automated. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 53% chance of automation.
What do you think the risk of automation is?
What is the likelihood that Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?
Sentiment
Based on user votes over time
View sentiment trend
How opinions have changed over time
Pay & outlook
Wages
In 2024, the median annual wage for Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians was $61,890 ($30 per hour).
The median annual wage for Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians was 25.0% higher than the national median annual wage, which stood at $49,500.
Growth
The number of 'Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians' job openings is expected to rise 1.7% by 2034
Updated projections are due 09-2025.
Volume
As of 2024 there were 343,040 people employed as 'Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians' within the United States.
This represents around 0.22% of the employed workforce across the country
Put another way, around 1 in 449 people are employed as 'Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians'.
People also viewed
Job description
Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.
O*NET-SOC code: 29-2012.00
What people are saying (4)
Automation can assist in processing a large number of specimens, but when it comes to ensuring the accuracy of the results and the laboratory data, and making sense of it based on the clinical presentation of symptoms and diagnosis, that's a whole different story.
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