Med Lab Scientist Salary

Salt Lake City vs West Valley City: Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist Salary (2026)

Compare medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries between Salt Lake City, UT and West Valley City, UT. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Salt Lake City, UT
$53,115
$25.53/hr
West Valley City, UT
$54,921
$26.41/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSalt Lake City, UTWest Valley City, UT
Median Salary$53,115$54,921
Hourly Rate$25.53$26.41
Entry Level (P10)$42,837$31,855
25th Percentile$42,837$39,570
75th Percentile$72,011$70,299
Top Earner (P90)$92,490$85,129
Total Employed4,86023
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Salt Lake City ($53,115) and West Valley City ($54,921) medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries.Salt Lake CityWest Valley CityMedian Salary$53,115$54,921Entry Level (P10)$42,837$31,855Top Earner (P90)$92,490$85,129US Median $68,734

Verdict

Salt Lake City and West Valley City are closely matched on overall medical and clinical laboratory technologist compensation, each winning on different metrics.

The salary gap between Salt Lake City and West Valley City is $1,806 (3.40%). West Valley City's median is -20.10% compared to the US national median of $68,734.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Salt Lake City spans $49,653,West Valley City spans $53,274. West Valley City has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced medical and clinical laboratory technologists.

Salt Lake City
P10 (Entry)$42,837
P25$42,837
Median$53,115
P75$72,011
P90 (Top)$92,490
West Valley City
P10 (Entry)$31,855
P25$39,570
Median$54,921
P75$70,299
P90 (Top)$85,129

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, West Valley City ($55,985 effective) pays 6.32% more than Salt Lake City ($52,658 effective).

Salt Lake City
Nominal: $53,115
CoL Index: 100.868
Adjusted: $52,658
West Valley City
Nominal: $54,921
CoL Index: 98.1
Adjusted: $55,985

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Salt Lake City if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($92,490)
  • Larger job market (4,860 employed)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Choose West Valley City if…

  • Higher median salary ($54,921/year)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $55,985)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries in Salt Lake City grew 7.2% from 2019 to 2025, compared to -18.8% growth in West Valley City over the same period.

Salt Lake City, UT

+7.2%

$48,100 (2019) → $51,548 (2025)

West Valley City, UT

+-18.8%

$65,679 (2024) → $53,301 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays medical and clinical laboratory technologists more: Salt Lake City or West Valley City?

West Valley City has a higher median medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary at $54,921/year, compared to Salt Lake City at $53,115/year — a difference of $1,806 (3.40%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Salt Lake City and West Valley City?

Salt Lake City medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn $25.53/hr while West Valley City hygienists earn $26.41/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Salt Lake City to West Valley City as a medical and clinical laboratory technologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Salt Lake City and West Valley City. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Salt Lake City = $52,658, West Valley City = $55,985), job availability (4,860 vs 23 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn in Salt Lake City vs West Valley City?

Entry-level (10th percentile) medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn $42,837 in Salt Lake City and $31,855 in West Valley City. The Salt Lake City area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

AC

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