We surveyed 3,836 medical laboratory technicians to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical medical laboratory technician. Here are the results.
Can I learn to become a medical laboratory technician?
Intrinsic Talent
Acquired Talent
A career as a medical laboratory technician typically depends predominantly on qualities you can gain through experience, with a small aspect of skills you are born with.
Is it easy to get a job as a medical laboratory technician?
Easy
Hard
It’s typically difficult to find a job as a medical laboratory technician. If you’re curious about the numbers, check out the job market for medical laboratory technicians.
Do medical laboratory technicians work full-time or part-time?
76% of medical laboratory technicians work in full-time roles while 24% work part-time.
Is being a medical laboratory technician stressful?
Low
High
Medical laboratory technicians tend not to find their jobs stressful, which likely contributes positively to career satisfaction.
Is being organized important as a medical laboratory technician?
Low
High
Some level of organization is generally required to be a medical laboratory technician.
How competitive is the workplace for medical laboratory technicians?
Low
High
Competition at work is not common for medical laboratory technicians.
Does being a medical laboratory technician require frequent time pressure to complete tasks?
Low
High
Time pressure tends not to be a major contributor of stress for medical laboratory technicians.
Are medical laboratory technicians allowed to express themselves creatively?
Low
High
Medical laboratory technicians rarely get a chance to express themselves creatively.
Do medical laboratory technicians have control over the direction of their work?
Low
High
Medical laboratory technicians tend to have a set and inflexible work schedule that they are unable to deviate from too much.
Is being a medical laboratory technician physically demanding?
Low
High
Work as a medical laboratory technician is not the most physically demanding of careers, falling in the bottom half of all careers.
Are medical laboratory technicians exposed to a wide variety of work?
Low
High
Medical laboratory technicians tend to have a monotonous work routine, with little variety in their day-to-day tasks.
Does being a medical laboratory technician require attention to detail?
Low
High
Attention to detail is a vital skill for medical laboratory technicians, as small mistakes can make or break one's ability to succeed in the career.
Does being a good medical laboratory technician require compassion and empathy?
Low
High
The ability to be compassionate and empathetic isn't considered fundamental to success as a medical laboratory technician.