Medical Laboratory Technologists

Medical Laboratory Technologists, also called Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS), perform complex diagnostic tests on blood, tissue, and other body fluids that physicians use to detect, diagnose, and monitor disease. They work primarily in hospital laboratories, medical and diagnostic labs, and physician offices, often behind the scenes but central to clinical decision-making. Despite slower projected employment growth, about 22,600 openings for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, largely from the need to replace workers who retire or leave the field. If you are detail-oriented, comfortable with complex instrumentation, and want to contribute directly to patient care without always being at the bedside, medical laboratory science is a stable and essential career path.