Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians Salary
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians in Alabama make a median of $49,440 a year, or about $23.77 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $55,953 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,085/month, about 32.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in Alabama?
About clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
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What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in Alabama runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $63K. Rent runs $1,085/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level clinical laboratory technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians salary by metro in Alabama
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn-Opelika | $54K | +10% | 150 |
| Tuscaloosa | $53K | +7% | 320 |
| Birmingham | $51K | +4% | 2,790 |
| Mobile | $50K | +1% | 730 |
| Dothan | $49K | -0% | 240 |
| Montgomery | $49K | -1% | 520 |
| Gadsden | $48K | -3% | 90 |
| Decatur | $48K | -4% | 90 |
| Huntsville | $47K | -4% | 630 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals | $46K | -7% | 190 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $46K | -7% | 190 |
| Anniston-Oxford | $41K | -16% | 180 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a clinical laboratory technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 33% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new clinical laboratory technologists and technicians typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,087/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is clinical laboratory technologists and technician a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $49K here vs. $63K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians?
Alabama pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $56K — below the national median.
How much do clinical laboratory technologists and technicians make in Alabama?
The median is $49,440 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,790, and experienced clinical laboratory technologists and technicians can clear $79,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,288/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 33% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a clinical laboratory technologists and technicians salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median clinical laboratory technologists and technicians salary is worth about $55,953 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do clinical laboratory technologists and technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.