Med Lab Scientist Salary

Burlington vs Thomasville: Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist Salary (2026)

Compare medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries between Burlington, NC and Thomasville, NC. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Burlington, NC
$55,703
$26.78/hr
Thomasville, NC
$63,146
$30.36/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricBurlington, NCThomasville, NC
Median Salary$55,703$63,146
Hourly Rate$26.78$30.36
Entry Level (P10)$39,909$39,006
25th Percentile$45,218$47,209
75th Percentile$72,098$78,933
Top Earner (P90)$88,372$97,877
Total Employed1,8204
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Burlington ($55,703) and Thomasville ($63,146) medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries.BurlingtonThomasvilleMedian Salary$55,703$63,146Entry Level (P10)$39,909$39,006Top Earner (P90)$88,372$97,877US Median $68,734

Verdict

Thomasville, NC offers better overall compensation for medical and clinical laboratory technologists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Burlington.

The salary gap between Burlington and Thomasville is $7,443 (13.36%). Thomasville's median is -8.13% compared to the US national median of $68,734.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Burlington spans $48,463,Thomasville spans $58,871. Thomasville has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced medical and clinical laboratory technologists.

Burlington
P10 (Entry)$39,909
P25$45,218
Median$55,703
P75$72,098
P90 (Top)$88,372
Thomasville
P10 (Entry)$39,006
P25$47,209
Median$63,146
P75$78,933
P90 (Top)$97,877

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Thomasville ($67,464 effective) pays 12.87% more than Burlington ($59,770 effective).

Burlington
Nominal: $55,703
CoL Index: 93.196
Adjusted: $59,770
Thomasville
Nominal: $63,146
CoL Index: 93.6
Adjusted: $67,464

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Burlington if…

  • Larger job market (1,820 employed)
  • You prefer the North Carolina area and lifestyle

Choose Thomasville if…

  • Higher median salary ($63,146/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($97,877)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $67,464)
  • You prefer the North Carolina area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries in Burlington grew 32.0% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 1.1% growth in Thomasville over the same period.

Burlington, NC

+32.0%

$40,950 (2019) → $54,060 (2025)

Thomasville, NC

+1.1%

$60,606 (2024) → $61,283 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays medical and clinical laboratory technologists more: Burlington or Thomasville?

Thomasville has a higher median medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary at $63,146/year, compared to Burlington at $55,703/year — a difference of $7,443 (13.36%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Burlington and Thomasville?

Burlington medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn $26.78/hr while Thomasville hygienists earn $30.36/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Burlington to Thomasville as a medical and clinical laboratory technologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Burlington and Thomasville. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Burlington = $59,770, Thomasville = $67,464), job availability (1,820 vs 4 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn in Burlington vs Thomasville?

Entry-level (10th percentile) medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn $39,909 in Burlington and $39,006 in Thomasville. The Burlington area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

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Written by Alexandra Choi, MS, MT(ASCP)

Career Analyst

Alexandra has 10 years of experience in clinical laboratory science. She specializes in molecular diagnostics. She works at a large metropolitan hospital.

Clinically reviewed by Jerome Patel, BS, MT(ASCP)Data verified by Fatima Hussain, MS, CLS

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.04% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Alexandra Choi, MS, MT(ASCP), a licensed medical and clinical laboratory technologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov