As a medical lab tech, you’ll have a number of responsibilities with patients or research materials. However, unlike being a doctor, this field only requires a two-year associate’s degree. Some people can even complete the work in 12 to 18 months, meaning that just a short time from now, you could be at work in one of the many medical laboratories located across the country. Will the cost of your education be worth the payoff?

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for medical lab technicians was $35,380 in 2008 (about $17 per hour), with the top 10% making $53,520 or more per year. That’s not too shabby, considering that you don’t even need a bachelor’s degree to have a successful career as a medical lab technician. The top paying employers for this industry are:

• Junior Colleges
• Pharmaceutical Companies
• Professional/Commercial Equipment Wholesalers
• Research Facilities
• Individual/Family Services

However, more medical lab tech jobs in the United States are found with hospitals, diagnostic centers, and physician offices. Many medical laboratories where you can find jobs are small, with only a few employees, and you may be the only medical lab tech. Others have hundreds of employees who work in shifts around the clock.

Your annual salary as a medical lab tech depends, in part, on where you live. The states with the highest median annual salaries in this career field are as follows:

• Rhode Island: $54,130
• Connecticut: $48,720
• Washington DC: $44,160
• Maryland: $43,220
• New York: $43,160

Even locations within each state can vary. You’ll typically make more in urban settings than in rural settings, though keep in mind that your cost of living will be higher in these areas as well. The highest median salaries for medical lab techs in 2008 were found in the founding metropolitan areas:

• Champaign-Urbana, IL: $63,210
• New Haven, CT: $51,610
• Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT: $51,300
• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $50,980
• Salinas, CA: $50,220

Remember, your salary will also rise the longer you stick with your job. Your starting salary as a medical lab tech may be lower than average for your area, but as you learn the specific lab where you work and improve your skills, you’ll advance in both responsibilities and pay. Over time, you can be in the top 10% salary range no matter where you live.

Education plays a role as well. All medical lab techs are required to pass a national certification test, but you can demand a higher salary if you go back to school for your bachelor’s degree, participate in on-the-job training, and otherwise work to improve your skills as a lab tech. The better you are at your job, the more money you’re worth to your employer. It all starts will a solid education at an accredited school, so contact colleges of interest today to learn more about becoming a medical lab tech.

For those looking to become a medical laboratory technician, a minimum of a two-year associate's degree is usually required to gain an entry-level position in the field. For those looking for more advancement, a bachelor's degree is recommended. There are numerous accredited online schools that offer such degrees, listed below.

BS in Clinical Lab Science	University of Cincinnati — The Bachelor of Science degree in clinical laboratory science offered by Cincinnati University is a perfect fit for individuals persuing a career as a medical lab technician. This program is designed to prepare students to become Clinical Lab Techs (CLTs) or Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLTs) in under three years.
AS in Allied Health Science	South University — The AS in allied health science degree program offered by South University emphasizes life science subjects like anatomy, chemistry, nutrition, and physiology. It is designed to prepare students for a wide variety of health careers, including medical laboratory technician.
AA in Human Services Mgmt	University of Phoenix — The AA in human services management degree offered by the University of Phoenix provides students with knowledge and skills related to the management of human services organizations.
AS in Health IT	DeVry University — Kaplan, one of the most prominent online universities in the United States, offers an Associate's degree in health information technology. The four-year program is designed to train students for a variety of HIT-based medical environments, including physician practices, home health care agencies, vendor firms, and more.
AS in Health IT	Rasmussen College — Rasmussen's associate's degree in health information technology teaches students medical front office procedures, how to handle patient accounts and records, and how to schedule patient appointments. Upon completion of this program, a graduate will be prepared to begin an HIT career.
AABA in Medical Coding & Billing	American InterContinental University — The AABA in medical coding and billing offered by American InterContinental University is an associate's degree-level education program designed to prepare students for a healthcare career. Students will learn the basics of medical terminology, anatomy, legal aspects of health information, health database management, and more.
BS in Health Services Mgmt	Virginia College Online — Virginia College Online offers a bachelor's degree program in health services management. This bachelor's degree presents students with a solid general education in addition to a focused teaching of basic healthcare principles. Graduates of this program will be prepared for management positions in a variety of healthcare settings.
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