Med Lab Scientist Salary

St. Cloud vs Woodbury: Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist Salary (2026)

Compare medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries between St. Cloud, MN and Woodbury, MN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

St. Cloud, MN
$64,999
$31.25/hr
Woodbury, MN
$72,709
$34.95/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSt. Cloud, MNWoodbury, MN
Median Salary$64,999$72,709
Hourly Rate$31.25$34.95
Entry Level (P10)$53,552$45,036
25th Percentile$56,872$54,569
75th Percentile$77,788$93,068
Top Earner (P90)$88,186$112,699
Total Employed11018
Side-by-side bar chart comparing St. Cloud ($64,999) and Woodbury ($72,709) medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries.St. CloudWoodburyMedian Salary$64,999$72,709Entry Level (P10)$53,552$45,036Top Earner (P90)$88,186$112,699US Median $68,734

Verdict

Woodbury, MN offers better overall compensation for medical and clinical laboratory technologists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to St. Cloud.

The salary gap between St. Cloud and Woodbury is $7,710 (11.86%). Woodbury's median is +5.78% compared to the US national median of $68,734.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in St. Cloud spans $34,634,Woodbury spans $67,663. Woodbury has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced medical and clinical laboratory technologists.

St. Cloud
P10 (Entry)$53,552
P25$56,872
Median$64,999
P75$77,788
P90 (Top)$88,186
Woodbury
P10 (Entry)$45,036
P25$54,569
Median$72,709
P75$93,068
P90 (Top)$112,699

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, St. Cloud ($74,173 effective) pays 0.48% more than Woodbury ($73,816 effective).

St. Cloud
Nominal: $64,999
CoL Index: 87.632
Adjusted: $74,173
Woodbury
Nominal: $72,709
CoL Index: 98.5
Adjusted: $73,816

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose St. Cloud if…

  • Larger job market (110 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $74,173)
  • You prefer the Minnesota area and lifestyle

Choose Woodbury if…

  • Higher median salary ($72,709/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($112,699)
  • You prefer the Minnesota area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries in St. Cloud grew 26.1% from 2019 to 2025, compared to -4.4% growth in Woodbury over the same period.

St. Cloud, MN

+26.1%

$50,010 (2019) → $63,081 (2025)

Woodbury, MN

+-4.4%

$73,850 (2024) → $70,564 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays medical and clinical laboratory technologists more: St. Cloud or Woodbury?

Woodbury has a higher median medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary at $72,709/year, compared to St. Cloud at $64,999/year — a difference of $7,710 (11.86%).

What is the hourly rate difference between St. Cloud and Woodbury?

St. Cloud medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn $31.25/hr while Woodbury hygienists earn $34.95/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from St. Cloud to Woodbury as a medical and clinical laboratory technologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing St. Cloud and Woodbury. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: St. Cloud = $74,173, Woodbury = $73,816), job availability (110 vs 18 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn in St. Cloud vs Woodbury?

Entry-level (10th percentile) medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn $53,552 in St. Cloud and $45,036 in Woodbury. The St. Cloud area offers higher starting salaries.
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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