# Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

US SOC code 29-2012. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/29-2012

Also called: Medical laboratory technician, Clinical laboratory technician, MLT, MLT(ASCP), Med lab technician.

## In brief

BLS last counted US medical and clinical laboratory technicians as their own occupation in May 2016: **160,190** jobs. Median pay was **$38,950** a year in May 2016. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.ascp.org/boc/about/history) of **10,000** from 1928, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for medical and clinical laboratory technicians: Full-scale TLA systems and CBC autoverification, 2005 to 2020.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS's 2025-35 employment projections do not list this occupation on its own.

### AI exposure studies

- **9.5%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2016.

## Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1887
- Latest US employment: 160,190 (May 2016). Source: BLS OEWS May 2016 [4]
- Latest US median pay: $38,950 (May 2016). Source: BLS OEWS May 2016 [8]

### All 21 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1928 | 10,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., ASCP BOC History [1] |
| 1950 | 55,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., ASCLS History of the Medical Laboratory… [2] |
| 1957 | 75,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., ASCLS History [2] |
| 1960 | n/a | $3,800 (estimate) | Est., University of Missouri Libraries [5] |
| 1980 | n/a | $14,500 (estimate) | Est., University of Missouri Libraries [6] |
| 1995 | 167,000 | n/a | BLS CPS [3] |
| 2000 | n/a | $27,540 | BLS OEWS 2000 [7] |
| 2003 | 146,160 | $29,610 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [4] |
| 2004 | 141,720 | $30,840 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [4] |
| 2005 | 142,330 | $31,700 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [4] |
| 2006 | 144,710 | $32,840 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [4] |
| 2007 | 145,890 | $34,270 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [4] |
| 2008 | 149,670 | $35,380 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [4] |
| 2009 | 152,420 | $36,030 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [4] |
| 2010 | 156,480 | $36,280 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [4] |
| 2011 | 156,860 | $36,950 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [4] |
| 2012 | 157,920 | $37,240 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [4] |
| 2013 | 157,080 | $37,970 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [4] |
| 2014 | 160,460 | $38,370 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [4] |
| 2015 | 157,610 | $38,970 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [4] |
| 2016 | 160,190 | $38,950 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [4] |

## Sources (67)

### Employment series

1. [ASCP BOC History — Board of Registry founded 1928 as Registration Bureau for Technicians; 350-applicant initial cohort; ASCLS history notes ACS accreditation standard (1919) created immediate demand for lab workers](https://www.ascp.org/boc/about/history), American Society for Clinical Pathology
2. [ASCLS History of the Medical Laboratory Science Profession — organizational growth through the 1940s-1950s; ASMT membership trajectory; hospital laboratory expansion post-WWII](https://ascls.org/history-of-the-medical-laboratory-science-profession/), American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
3. [BLS Occupational Compensation Survey A203 — Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians historical series (technician-tier employment estimate drawn from BLS OCS records)](https://www.bls.gov/ocs/additional-resources/a203-clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
4. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip)

### Wage series

5. [University of Missouri Libraries — Prices and Wages by Decade: 1960s (research guide aggregating BLS/Census health-technician wage sources; figure is a derived estimate for clinical laboratory technicians)](https://libraryguides.missouri.edu/pricesandwages/1960-1969), University of Missouri Libraries
6. [University of Missouri Libraries — Prices and Wages by Decade: 1980s (research guide aggregating BLS/Census health-technician wage sources; figure is a derived estimate for clinical laboratory technicians)](https://libraryguides.missouri.edu/pricesandwages/1980-1989), University of Missouri Libraries
7. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
8. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip)

### Tool eras

9. [ASCLS — A Brief History of Medical Diagnosis and the Birth of the Clinical Laboratory (ASCLS-PA historical monograph)](https://www.ascls-pa.org/uploads/2/4/2/1/24211033/meddiagandlab.pdf), ASCLS Pennsylvania
10. [Johns Hopkins Pathology — History 1885-1931 (Welch pathological laboratory opened 1887, clinical laboratory operations)](https://pathology.jhu.edu/about/history/pathology/1885-1931), Johns Hopkins Medicine
11. [ASCP BOC History — Board of Registry established 1928 as Registration Bureau for Technicians; first 350-applicant cohort; 80% women; credentialing history](https://www.ascp.org/boc/about/history), American Society for Clinical Pathology
12. [American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science — Wikipedia (ASMT founded 1933, incorporated 1936; organizational history)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Society_for_Clinical_Laboratory_Science), Wikipedia
13. [Wikipedia — AutoAnalyzer (Technicon 1957 commercial launch; continuous-flow analysis history; SMA-12 development)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AutoAnalyzer), Wikipedia
14. [Wikipedia — Automated analyser (history of clinical laboratory automation; Coulter Counter, multichannel chemistry analyzer deployment)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_analyser), Wikipedia
15. [CDC — Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA): overview, three-tier complexity structure, personnel standards (moderate complexity requires associate degree or equivalent)](https://www.cdc.gov/clia/php/about/index.html), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
16. [PMC11432833 — 35 years after CLIA 1988: Key insights and policy implications among laboratory professionals (CLIA workforce impact review)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11432833/), PubMed Central
17. [PMC12370808 — Revolutionizing Laboratory Practices: Pioneering Trends in Total Laboratory Automation (Diagnostics, 2026): TLA increases test productivity per capita up to 42%; 60% of large labs on TLA; 25% added AI to TLA systems](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12370808/), PubMed Central
18. [Beckman Coulter Power Express V5.0 — removes 80% of manual specimen processing steps; Sample Tube Feeder enables touchless loading at 700 STAT samples/hour; total 1,450 samples/hour system capacity](https://www.beckmancoulter.com/en/blog/diagnostics/reduce-manual-steps-in-your-lab-with-power-express-v5), Beckman Coulter
19. [ASCP 2024 Vacancy Survey (January 2026 summary) — 24,000+ annual openings vs. 8,800 graduates; only 17.4% of labs use AI; most AI adopters trained staff rather than cut headcount; 10 of 17 lab departments reported increased retirements in 2024](https://criticalvalues.org/news/all/2026/01/27/ascp-2024-vacancy-survey-report-highlights-policy-priorities-to-address-laboratory-workforce-shortages-through-credentialing--advocacy--and-education-expansion), American Society for Clinical Pathology
20. [Scopio Labs CBM Analyzer — unveiled ADLM July 2025; AI autonomous peripheral blood smear review; 1,000 WBCs / 10,000 RBCs per slide; targets hands-off routine PBS review; partnership with Siemens Healthineers and Beckman Coulter](https://scopiolabs.com/news/scopio-labs-unveils-first-of-its-kind-ai-powered-solution-to-fully-automate-blood-morphology/), Scopio Labs

### Forecasts and exposure studies

21. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 29-2012.00, human-rated β 0.095)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

22. [ASCLS History of the Medical Laboratory Science Profession — 1919 ACS accreditation standard required hospital laboratories; created immediate workforce demand that drove professionalization](https://ascls.org/history-of-the-medical-laboratory-science-profession/), American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
23. [ASCP BOC History — 1928 Registration Bureau for Technicians; 350-applicant first cohort; 80% women; first U.S. laboratory credentialing system](https://www.ascp.org/boc/about/history), American Society for Clinical Pathology
24. [CDC CLIA — Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments overview: passed 1988 following cytology quality concerns; three-tier complexity structure; MLT(ASCP) credential formalized as moderate-complexity personnel minimum](https://www.cdc.gov/clia/php/about/index.html), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
25. [ASCP 2024 Vacancy Survey (December 2025 / January 2026 summary) — 24,000+ annual openings vs. 8,800 graduates; 10 of 17 departments reporting increased retirements in 2024; vacancy rates above 2019 baseline](https://criticalvalues.org/news/all/2026/01/27/ascp-2024-vacancy-survey-report-highlights-policy-priorities-to-address-laboratory-workforce-shortages-through-credentialing--advocacy--and-education-expansion), American Society for Clinical Pathology

### Predecessors & successors

26. [ASCP BOC History — pre-1928 laboratory workers trained informally under pathologist supervision; 1919 ACS accreditation requirement created workforce demand](https://www.ascp.org/boc/about/history), American Society for Clinical Pathology
27. [ASCLS History of the Medical Laboratory Science Profession — early laboratory workers were often nurses or nursing-trained women recruited into diagnostic work by pathologists](https://ascls.org/history-of-the-medical-laboratory-science-profession/), American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
28. [ASCP — MLT to MLS(ASCP) bachelor completion programs; NAACLS-accredited online completion tracks for working MLTs; MLS median wage approximately $73,000-$78,000 vs. $57,000-$62,000 for MLT](https://www.ascp.org/boc/explore-credentials/view-all-credentials/MLT), American Society for Clinical Pathology
29. [BLS OOH — Medical and Health Services Managers: +29% projected growth 2024-2034; median wage $116,750; laboratory management a common pathway for experienced MLS-credentialed workers](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 — Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians (29-2012.00): tasks, work activities, technology skills, employment data](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2012.00), accessed 2026-05-24
- [BLS OOH — Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians: 351,200 employed 2024; median wage $61,890; 1-2% growth 2024-2034; 22,600 annual openings](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm), accessed 2026-05-24
- [ASCP 2024 Vacancy Survey (Dec 2025 / Jan 2026) — 24,000+ annual openings vs. 8,800 graduates; only 17.4% of labs use AI tools; AI adoption concentrated in LIS/QA and anatomic pathology; most AI adopters trained staff rather than cut headcount](https://criticalvalues.org/news/all/2026/01/27/ascp-2024-vacancy-survey-report-highlights-policy-priorities-to-address-laboratory-workforce-shortages-through-credentialing--advocacy--and-education-expansion), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Scopio Labs CBM Analyzer — AI blood morphology system unveiled July 2025 (ADLM); examines 1,000 WBCs / 10,000 RBCs per slide; targets hands-off routine PBS review; partnered with Siemens Healthineers and Beckman Coulter for distribution](https://scopiolabs.com/news/scopio-labs-unveils-first-of-its-kind-ai-powered-solution-to-fully-automate-blood-morphology/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [PMC12370808 — Revolutionizing Laboratory Practices: Pioneering Trends in Total Laboratory Automation (Diagnostics, 2026) — TLA increases test productivity per capita up to 42%; Abbott, Roche, Siemens, Beckman Coulter, Thermo Fisher dominate ~93% of TLA market; 60% of large labs on TLA; 25% added AI](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12370808/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Beckman Coulter DxH 900 — up to 93% first-pass yield; frees equivalent of one FTE through reduced slide reviews; reclaims up to 2,400 staff hours per year](https://www.beckmancoulter.com/products/hematology/dxh-900), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science): occupational LLM exposure framework](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Beckman Coulter Power Express V5.0 — Sample Tube Feeder enables touchless specimen loading at 700 STAT/hour; overall 1,450 samples/hour; removes 80% of manual processing steps; V5.0 blog 2025](https://www.beckmancoulter.com/en/blog/diagnostics/reduce-manual-steps-in-your-lab-with-power-express-v5), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Abbott GLP Track (iCAR) — FDA-cleared December 2023; handles 25,000 test tubes/day; smart Computerized Automated Routing; first U.S.-cleared belt-free self-propelled car system for clinical labs](https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2023-12-14-Abbotts-New-Lab-Automation-System-GLP-Systems-Track-Receives-FDA-Approval-Providing-Labs-and-Patients-with-Faster-Results), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Sysmex America — XN-Series onboard decision rules and WAM Workflow Automation Manager enable high-volume auto-validation of hematology results; reduces manual slide review rate at high-volume sites](https://www.sysmex.com/en-us/lab-solutions/hematology/xn-series), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Beckman Coulter IRIS iQ200 — Auto-Particle Recognition classifies 12 particle types / 27 subcategories; Edit-Free Release auto-releases on user-defined parameters; accuracy 68-97% by particle type; manual review still required for dysmorphic RBCs, Trichomonas, oval fat bodies, and cast subtypes](https://www.beckmancoulter.com/products/urinalysis/iq200), accessed 2026-05-24
- [PMC5082210 — Comparison of Cobas 6500 and Iris IQ200 fully-automated urine analyzers to manual urine microscopy: automated systems perform well for RBCs, WBCs, and casts but require confirmatory manual review for pathological particle subtypes](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5082210/), accessed 2026-05-24

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.