Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians Salary
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians in Ames, IA make a median of $56,380 a year, or about $27.1 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.83), which stretches that salary to about $63,470 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,153/month, about 31.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $56K get you in Ames?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Ames’s Regional Price Parity (88.83). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
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What this looks like in Ames
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians pay in Ames tracks closely to the national median, $56K locally vs. $63K nationwide, a 10% difference. Rent runs $1,153/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.83 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in metros near Ames, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $50K | $55K |
| Iowa City | $52K | $57K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $48K | $54K |
| Cedar Rapids | $63K | $70K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ames, IA
Entry-level clinical laboratory technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $97K | +55% | 16,460 |
| Oregon | $83K | +32% | 2,660 |
| New Hampshire | $81K | +29% | 800 |
| Massachusetts | $79K | +26% | 10,850 |
| Vermont | $79K | +25% | 460 |
| District of Columbia | $77K | +22% | 960 |
| California | $76K | +21% | 29,210 |
| Rhode Island | $76K | +20% | 1,060 |
| Minnesota | $74K | +18% | 7,190 |
| Washington | $73K | +16% | 7,430 |
| Illinois | $72K | +14% | 10,330 |
| Colorado | $70K | +11% | 5,000 |
| Maine | $69K | +9% | 1,250 |
| Delaware | $69K | +9% | 690 |
| New Jersey | $68K | +9% | 7,000 |
| Hawaii | $66K | +5% | 1,090 |
| Wyoming | $66K | +4% | 450 |
| Connecticut | $65K | +4% | 3,670 |
| Montana | $65K | +4% | 1,020 |
| Ohio | $64K | +1% | 13,050 |
| Maryland | $64K | +1% | 6,200 |
| North Dakota | $63K | -0% | 1,370 |
| Arizona | $63K | -1% | 6,440 |
| Georgia | $62K | -1% | 11,540 |
| Tennessee | $62K | -1% | 8,410 |
| Kansas | $62K | -1% | 3,930 |
| West Virginia | $62K | -2% | 1,800 |
| Michigan | $61K | -3% | 10,000 |
| Virginia | $61K | -3% | 7,150 |
| Alaska | $61K | -3% | 680 |
| South Dakota | $61K | -3% | 1,280 |
| Kentucky | $61K | -3% | 4,860 |
| Wisconsin | $61K | -4% | 8,480 |
| North Carolina | $61K | -4% | 13,710 |
| Nebraska | $61K | -4% | 1,930 |
| Florida | $61K | -4% | 25,790 |
| Missouri | $60K | -4% | 7,670 |
| Texas | $59K | -6% | 29,530 |
| Nevada | $57K | -9% | 2,040 |
| Indiana | $57K | -9% | 7,210 |
| South Carolina | $55K | -12% | 4,380 |
| Louisiana | $54K | -13% | 3,790 |
| Iowa | $54K | -14% | 3,240 |
| Oklahoma | $53K | -15% | 4,250 |
| Pennsylvania | $52K | -18% | 13,020 |
| Mississippi | $51K | -20% | 3,070 |
| Arkansas | $50K | -21% | 3,180 |
| Alabama | $49K | -21% | 7,250 |
| Utah | $49K | -22% | 6,370 |
| Idaho | $47K | -25% | 1,590 |
| New Mexico | $47K | -25% | 2,160 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track clinical laboratory technologists and technicians salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a clinical laboratory technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ames?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 31.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,153/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Ames?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new clinical laboratory technologists and technicians typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,344/month. At HUD’s $1,153/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Ames?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $56K locally vs. $63K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Ames compare to the national average for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians?
Ames pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.83), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do clinical laboratory technologists and technicians make in Ames, IA?
The median is $56,380 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,070, and experienced clinical laboratory technologists and technicians can clear $75,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in Ames?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,713/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month, which eats 31.1% 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 Ames?
Ames has a Regional Price Parity of 88.83 (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 $63,470 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.