Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians Salary
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians in Pennsylvania make a median of $51,680 a year, or about $24.85 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $86K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $54,417 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 39% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in Pennsylvania?
About clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pay for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in Pennsylvania runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,351/month, which is 38.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for clinical laboratory technologists and technicianss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level clinical laboratory technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $86K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians salary by metro in Pennsylvania
16 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chambersburg | $65K | +26% | 120 |
| Lebanon | $62K | +20% | 70 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $61K | +19% | 700 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $60K | +16% | 6,150 |
| Lancaster | $60K | +15% | 360 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $59K | +14% | 1,080 |
| Gettysburg | $54K | +5% | 40 |
| York-Hanover | $53K | +2% | 260 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $52K | +0% | 550 |
| Johnstown | $50K | -2% | 170 |
| Pittsburgh | $48K | -8% | 2,610 |
| Reading | $47K | -9% | 250 |
| Erie | $46K | -10% | 260 |
| Altoona | $44K | -14% | 150 |
| State College | $44K | -15% | 120 |
| Williamsport | $44K | -15% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 16 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a clinical laboratory technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 38.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/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 Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new clinical laboratory technologists and technicians typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,258/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 60% 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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $52K here vs. $63K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians?
Pennsylvania pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do clinical laboratory technologists and technicians make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $51,680 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,630, and experienced clinical laboratory technologists and technicians can clear $86,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,498/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 38.6% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $54,417 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.