Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist Salary in California: $79,328 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 158 metropolitan areas, the average median medical and clinical laboratory technologist pay sits at $79,328/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-2010. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $70,140 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Sunnyvale ($92,074), Santa Clara ($91,470), Vallejo ($91,425).

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary overview (2026)

$79,328

Avg Median Salary

$38.14

Avg Hourly Rate

30,029

Metro Employed

158

Cities

In 2026, the average median salary for medical and clinical laboratory technologists in California is projected to be $79,328, significantly higher than the national median of $68,734, reflecting a 15.4% premium for working in the state. The highest paying city, Sunnyvale, offers a salary of $94,873, while the lowest, Visalia, pays $56,250, creating a notable salary gap of $38,623. This disparity is primarily driven by factors such as the cost of living, demand for healthcare services, and the concentration of high-tech medical facilities in metropolitan regions. California has specific licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that ensure a skilled workforce is maintained, which can influence salary levels. The state’s demand for healthcare professionals, along with an annual growth rate of 3.04%, indicates a stable job market outlook for laboratory technologists. The top cities projected for competitive salaries in 2026 include Santa Clara at $94,251, Vallejo at $94,204, Oakland at $93,981, and San Jose at $92,697. This information is beneficial for those considering a career in this field, as it highlights both the earning potential and the factors influencing job availability in California.

California Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$53,906

avg across 158 cities

Median

$79,328

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$133,446

avg across 158 cities

Overall salary range in California: $39,268 (lowest entry-level) to $163,430 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$79,328

National Median

$68,734

California medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn 15.41% more than the national median (+$10,594/year difference).

California Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist Salary Distribution (2026)

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist salaries in California range from $53,906 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $133,446 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $79,328. The California median is $10,594 above the US national median of $68,734. The average hourly rate is $38.14/hr. Approximately 30,029 medical and clinical laboratory technologists are employed across 158 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$58,184

2025 BLS Actual

$76,988

2026 Current Est.

$79,328

2019–2027 Growth

+40.5%

Salary Trajectory for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.04% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$58,184	Actual
2020	$63,255	Actual
2021	$65,641	Actual
2022	$63,489	Actual
2023	$67,724	Actual
2024	$74,590	Actual
2025	$76,988	Actual
2026(current)	$79,328	Estimated
2027	$81,740	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary grew 32.3% from $58,184 (2019) to $76,988 (2025). At a 3.04% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $81,740 by 2027 — a total increase of $23,556 (40.49%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.04% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $45.62/hr

$94,873

+19.60% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $45.32/hr

$94,251

+18.81% vs avg

Vallejo

220 employed · $45.29/hr

$94,204

+18.75% vs avg

Oakland

78 employed · $45.18/hr

$93,981

+18.47% vs avg

San Jose

1,870 employed · $44.56/hr

$92,697

+16.85% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Visalia	$56,250	-29.09%	$27.05
Santa Maria	$58,586	-26.15%	$28.17
El Centro	$63,611	-19.81%	$30.58
Chico	$65,009	-18.05%	$31.26
Riverside	$67,620	-14.76%	$32.52

Best Value Cities for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for medical and clinical laboratory technologists.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Redding	$88,710	100.684	$88,107
Vallejo	$94,204	108.479	$86,841
Santa Rosa	$91,965	107.784	$85,323
Sacramento	$90,818	106.67	$85,139
San Jose	$92,697	110.423	$83,947

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$53,906	$25.92	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$79,328	$38.14	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$133,446	$64.16	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 158 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Sunnyvale	$94,873	$45.62	$57,624	$147,054	26
2	Santa Clara	$94,251	$45.32	$56,253	$146,089	32
3	Vallejo	$94,204	$45.29	$66,068	$106,044	220
4	Oakland	$93,981	$45.18	$55,348	$145,670	78
5	San Jose	$92,697	$44.56	$72,994	$163,430	1,870
6	Santa Rosa	$91,965	$44.21	$57,429	$118,419	340
7	Fremont	$91,908	$44.18	$53,307	$142,457	43
8	San Francisco	$91,889	$44.18	$60,695	$145,987	5,210
9	Folsom	$91,433	$43.96	$53,824	$141,720	17
10	Petaluma	$91,086	$43.79	$58,902	$141,183	12
11	Sacramento	$90,818	$43.67	$53,858	$139,106	2,020
12	Santa Cruz	$90,764	$43.64	$59,952	$109,484	80
13	Roseville	$90,444	$43.48	$58,021	$140,189	35
14	Redding	$88,710	$42.65	$49,772	$139,859	80
15	Napa	$87,454	$42.05	$52,339	$115,044	50
16	Oxnard	$84,014	$40.39	$51,771	$121,772	270
17	Thousand Oaks	$83,675	$40.23	$53,772	$129,695	32
18	Modesto	$83,130	$39.97	$50,100	$104,220	360
19	Santa Ana	$82,321	$39.58	$47,746	$127,598	69
20	Stockton	$81,742	$39.30	$48,713	$103,685	370
21	Fontana	$80,798	$38.85	$46,863	$125,237	32
22	Irvine	$80,709	$38.80	$49,254	$125,099	72
23	Lodi	$80,613	$38.75	$51,500	$124,950	14
24	Pomona	$80,315	$38.61	$48,459	$124,488	36
25	Simi Valley	$80,271	$38.59	$48,604	$124,421	23
26	Escondido	$80,252	$38.58	$48,642	$124,390	31
27	Fairfield	$80,107	$38.52	$48,243	$124,166	25
28	Fullerton	$79,813	$38.37	$47,355	$123,710	25
29	Daly City	$79,744	$38.34	$47,204	$123,603	20
30	El Monte	$79,718	$38.33	$47,468	$123,562	20
31	Vista	$79,675	$38.30	$47,373	$123,496	24
32	Concord	$79,655	$38.30	$47,331	$123,466	29
33	Clovis	$79,537	$38.24	$47,071	$123,282	19
34	Garden Grove	$79,455	$38.20	$46,574	$123,155	37
35	Temecula	$79,436	$38.19	$46,852	$123,126	25
36	Santa Clarita	$79,383	$38.17	$48,764	$123,044	41
37	Lancaster	$79,279	$38.11	$46,511	$122,882	40
38	Inglewood	$79,279	$38.11	$46,511	$122,882	21
39	Corona	$79,178	$38.06	$46,213	$122,726	24
40	Richmond	$79,166	$38.06	$45,948	$122,707	25
41	Rialto	$79,129	$38.04	$46,185	$122,650	17
42	Torrance	$79,028	$37.99	$45,836	$122,493	26
43	Elk Grove	$78,877	$37.92	$45,749	$122,260	25
44	Oceanside	$78,859	$37.91	$45,738	$122,231	28
45	Whittier	$78,835	$37.90	$49,022	$122,194	22
46	San Rafael	$78,829	$37.90	$48,928	$122,185	11
47	Rancho Cucamonga	$78,758	$37.87	$45,680	$122,075	46
48	Hayward	$78,714	$37.85	$45,654	$122,008	23
49	Woodland	$78,694	$37.84	$48,621	$121,976	15
50	Buena Park	$78,681	$37.83	$48,675	$121,956	20
51	Encinitas	$78,675	$37.83	$48,661	$121,947	16
52	Downey	$78,670	$37.83	$45,628	$121,939	22
53	Dublin	$78,626	$37.81	$48,549	$121,870	14
54	Redlands	$78,601	$37.78	$48,494	$121,831	16
55	Chino	$78,558	$37.76	$48,316	$121,764	17
56	Westminster	$78,534	$37.75	$48,021	$121,727	21
57	Santa Monica	$78,528	$37.75	$48,248	$121,718	20
58	San Mateo	$78,520	$37.75	$45,542	$121,706	21
59	Tulare	$78,497	$37.74	$48,178	$121,671	17
60	San Buenaventura	$78,469	$37.72	$50,605	$121,627	19
61	Mission Viejo	$78,417	$37.70	$48,079	$121,546	23
62	Moreno Valley	$78,416	$37.70	$47,032	$121,544	53
63	Pleasanton	$78,404	$37.69	$48,052	$121,526	16
64	Pasadena	$78,293	$37.64	$48,291	$121,354	35
65	Santee	$78,238	$37.61	$47,680	$121,270	9
66	Glendale	$78,168	$37.58	$49,939	$121,161	36
67	Mountain View	$78,127	$37.56	$47,431	$121,097	13
68	Pittsburg	$78,121	$37.56	$47,098	$121,087	19
69	Novato	$78,097	$37.55	$47,284	$121,050	11
70	Costa Mesa	$78,067	$37.53	$47,798	$121,004	23
71	Berkeley	$77,986	$37.50	$49,540	$120,878	23
72	Huntington Beach	$77,967	$37.49	$49,733	$120,849	50
73	Jurupa Valley	$77,898	$37.46	$49,582	$120,742	24
74	Hemet	$77,876	$37.44	$46,871	$120,707	14
75	Union City	$77,869	$37.43	$46,856	$120,698	11
76	West Covina	$77,860	$37.43	$49,498	$120,684	25
77	Chino Hills	$77,838	$37.42	$46,709	$120,650	21
78	Gilroy	$77,727	$37.37	$46,542	$120,477	10
79	San Marcos	$77,684	$37.35	$46,129	$120,410	17
80	Tustin	$77,617	$37.31	$45,980	$120,306	18
81	San Ramon	$77,611	$37.31	$46,284	$120,297	19
82	Eastvale	$77,537	$37.28	$46,121	$120,182	10
83	Murrieta	$77,533	$37.28	$48,863	$120,177	25
84	Vacaville	$77,533	$37.28	$48,863	$120,177	15
85	Brentwood	$77,499	$37.26	$46,039	$120,124	13
86	Hesperia	$77,462	$37.24	$45,957	$120,066	14
87	Lake Elsinore	$77,457	$37.24	$45,945	$120,059	18
88	Citrus Heights	$77,358	$37.19	$45,727	$119,906	19
89	El Cajon	$77,289	$37.16	$45,810	$119,798	18
90	San Clemente	$77,266	$37.15	$45,445	$119,761	10
91	Bellflower	$77,236	$37.14	$45,457	$119,715	11
92	Palmdale	$77,201	$37.12	$48,062	$119,661	29
93	La Mirada	$77,201	$37.12	$49,338	$118,144	10
94	Apple Valley	$77,186	$37.10	$45,349	$119,639	19
95	Menifee	$77,164	$37.09	$48,059	$119,604	20
96	Yucaipa	$77,131	$37.08	$45,227	$119,552	14
97	Norwalk	$77,125	$37.08	$47,899	$119,545	22
98	Yuba City	$77,093	$37.06	$45,146	$119,494	10
99	Rancho Cordova	$77,056	$37.04	$45,066	$119,438	20
100	Montebello	$76,983	$37.01	$44,905	$119,324	16
101	Compton	$76,952	$36.99	$44,759	$119,276	25
102	Porterville	$76,897	$36.97	$44,716	$119,189	11
103	Lompoc	$76,886	$36.96	$48,691	$117,042	8
104	Hawthorne	$76,768	$36.91	$44,526	$118,991	13
105	Antioch	$76,743	$36.90	$47,075	$118,951	17
106	Burbank	$76,736	$36.89	$44,634	$118,941	22
107	Alhambra	$76,559	$36.81	$50,105	$118,666	13
108	Livermore	$76,559	$36.81	$47,557	$118,666	21
109	Orange	$76,535	$36.80	$46,707	$118,629	21
110	South Gate	$76,534	$36.80	$49,736	$118,628	25
111	Victorville	$76,516	$36.79	$46,667	$118,600	30
112	West Sacramento	$76,491	$36.77	$49,640	$118,561	9
113	Poway	$76,471	$36.76	$47,731	$115,781	8
114	San Leandro	$76,367	$36.71	$49,598	$118,369	23
115	Indio	$76,282	$36.67	$49,172	$118,236	23
116	Lake Forest	$76,282	$36.67	$49,172	$118,236	14
117	Carson	$76,146	$36.61	$49,182	$118,025	21
118	Rocklin	$76,134	$36.60	$49,155	$118,008	10
119	Newport Beach	$76,004	$36.54	$48,867	$117,807	12
120	Redwood City	$75,998	$36.54	$48,775	$117,797	13
121	Turlock	$75,980	$36.53	$48,735	$117,769	17
122	Manteca	$75,955	$36.52	$48,757	$117,730	13
123	Perris	$75,949	$36.52	$48,433	$117,720	12
124	Madera	$75,888	$36.49	$48,608	$117,626	8
125	Baldwin Park	$75,752	$36.41	$48,230	$117,415	19
126	Palo Alto	$75,752	$36.41	$48,307	$117,415	15
127	Lakewood	$75,721	$36.40	$48,239	$117,368	19
128	Hanford	$75,567	$36.33	$47,822	$117,130	10
129	Beaumont	$75,499	$36.30	$47,441	$117,025	9
130	Merced	$75,487	$36.29	$45,520	$117,005	20
131	Tracy	$75,482	$36.29	$47,710	$116,997	14
132	Alameda	$75,457	$36.28	$47,656	$116,959	12
133	Laguna Niguel	$75,439	$36.27	$47,306	$116,930	16
134	Milpitas	$75,402	$36.25	$47,533	$116,872	16
135	Camarillo	$75,242	$36.18	$47,183	$116,625	13
136	Oakley	$75,211	$36.16	$44,870	$116,577	8
137	Davis	$75,192	$36.15	$46,998	$116,549	14
138	Upland	$75,137	$36.13	$46,645	$116,462	18
139	La Habra	$75,027	$36.07	$46,635	$116,291	16
140	Lynwood	$74,996	$36.05	$46,644	$116,244	16
141	Anaheim	$74,960	$36.04	$43,507	$116,187	51
142	Long Beach	$73,893	$35.53	$42,858	$114,534	89
143	Brea	$73,716	$35.44	$47,567	$114,260	10
144	Los Angeles	$73,649	$35.41	$51,105	$133,841	10,150
145	Chula Vista	$69,731	$33.53	$40,444	$108,084	51
146	San Diego	$69,651	$33.49	$49,292	$139,488	2,740
147	Carlsbad	$69,069	$33.21	$43,641	$107,056	23
148	Bakersfield	$69,040	$33.19	$50,090	$111,637	360
149	Salinas	$68,559	$32.96	$51,869	$136,834	110
150	Ontario	$68,532	$32.95	$40,549	$106,225	42
151	Fresno	$67,893	$32.63	$48,571	$103,838	600
152	San Luis Obispo	$67,761	$32.58	$52,930	$148,881	70
153	San Bernardino	$67,703	$32.55	$39,268	$104,940	33
154	Riverside	$67,620	$32.52	$51,061	$109,878	1,530
155	Chico	$65,009	$31.26	$52,154	$92,413	170
156	El Centro	$63,611	$30.58	$49,696	$92,839	50
157	Santa Maria	$58,586	$28.17	$53,158	$100,048	240
158	Visalia	$56,250	$27.05	$40,795	$99,841	90

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore medical and clinical laboratory technologist hourly pay in California cities.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →Vallejo →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new medical and clinical laboratory technologists.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →Vallejo →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced medical and clinical laboratory technologists.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →Vallejo →

Compare Cities in California

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Explore More Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do medical and clinical laboratory technologists make in California in 2026?

The average median medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary in California is $79,328/year across 158 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $56,250 in Visalia to $94,873 in Sunnyvale. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 15.41% above the national median of $68,734. The state employs approximately 30,029 medical and clinical laboratory technologists.

What is the highest paying city for medical and clinical laboratory technologists in California?

Sunnyvale offers the highest medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary in California at $94,873/year ($45.62/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Sunnyvale ($94,873), Santa Clara ($94,251), Vallejo ($94,204). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for clinical laboratory science services, and competition among employers for licensed medical and clinical laboratory technologists.

How does California medical and clinical laboratory technologist pay compare to the national average?

California's average medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary of $79,328 is 15.41% above the national median of $68,734 in 2026. The state employs approximately 30,029 medical and clinical laboratory technologists across 158 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary in California?

Entry-level medical and clinical laboratory technologists (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $53,906/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $39,268 in lower-paying areas to $72,994 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many medical and clinical laboratory technologists are employed in California?

California employs approximately 30,029 medical and clinical laboratory technologists across 158 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of medical and clinical laboratory technologists nationally. Demand continues to grow as the clinical laboratory science field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for medical and clinical laboratory technologists?

When adjusted for cost of living, Redding offers the highest purchasing power for medical and clinical laboratory technologists in California, with an adjusted salary of $88,107 (nominal: $88,710, CoL index: 100.684). This means your dollar goes 1% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

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

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.04% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 medical and clinical laboratory technologist compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 158 metro areas — larger metro areas with more medical and clinical laboratory technologistscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.04%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for medical and clinical laboratory technologists (SOC 29-2010).

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

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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