Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians Salary
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY make a median of $81,330 a year, or about $39.1 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.69), which stretches that salary to about $92,747 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,405/month, or 27.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $81K get you in Watertown-Fort Drum?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Watertown-Fort Drum’s Regional Price Parity (87.69). 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 Watertown-Fort Drum
Watertown-Fort Drum sits well above the national pay line for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, local pay runs about 29% higher than the U.S. median of $63K. Rent runs $1,405/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.69 (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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in metros near Watertown-Fort Drum, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $97K | $86K |
| Rochester | $81K | $84K |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $80K | $80K |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $78K | $81K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
Entry-level clinical laboratory technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $46K 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 Watertown-Fort Drum?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 27.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,405/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in Watertown-Fort Drum?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new clinical laboratory technologists and technicians typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,597/month. At HUD’s $1,405/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Watertown-Fort Drum?
Local pay is 29% above the national median — $81K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does Watertown-Fort Drum compare to the national average for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians?
Watertown-Fort Drum pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s +29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.69), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do clinical laboratory technologists and technicians make in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
The median is $81,330 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,950, and experienced clinical laboratory technologists and technicians can clear $105,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Watertown-Fort Drum?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,145/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,405/month, which eats 27.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a clinical laboratory technologists and technicians salary go in Watertown-Fort Drum?
Watertown-Fort Drum has a Regional Price Parity of 87.69 (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 $92,747 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.