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Salary comparison

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians vs. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses: Who Earns More?

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nursess out-earn Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicianss by $1K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicianss land at $62,930 and Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nursess at $64,400. The education gap is real: clinical laboratory technologists and technician programs typically require bachelor's degree, while licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse programs require postsecondary nondegree award. Top-paying state for Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicianss is New York ($97,280); for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nursess it's Washington ($83,150).

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Median salary
$62,930
$64,400
Hourly rate
$30.26/hr
$30.96/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$38,910
$49,740
Senior level (90th %)
$100,990
$83,440
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Postsecondary nondegree award
U.S. employment
332,940
648,410
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Healthcare
Healthcare
Top-paying state
New York
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians median pay.

State
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Oregon
$83,010
$80,470
New Hampshire
$81,020
$77,110
Massachusetts
$79,120
$80,220
District of Columbia
$76,560
$75,740
California
$76,010
$79,750
Rhode Island
$75,780
$80,090
Washington
$72,760
$83,150
Illinois
$71,950
$75,000
Colorado
$70,050
$73,880
New Jersey
$68,450
$75,160
Connecticut
$65,310
$73,690
Maryland
$63,690
$74,660
Arizona
$62,530
$77,070
Alaska
$60,950
$80,800
Nevada
$57,320
$76,160

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicianss or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nursess?

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nursess earn more nationally. The median is $62,930 for Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicianss versus $64,400 for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nursess, a difference of $1K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians typically requires bachelor's degree. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses requires postsecondary nondegree award. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicianss get paid the most?

New York is the top-paying state for Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicianss at $97,280/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians vs. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Oregon, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicianss earn $83,010 vs. $80,470 for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nursess. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians salary breakdownView →Full Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary breakdownView →Best cities for Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicianss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nursess by take-home payExplore →How to become a clinical laboratory technologists and techniciansGuide →How to become a licensed practical and licensed vocational nursesGuide →