AL · Birmingham · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Birmingham, AL

Pay for medical laboratory scientists in the Birmingham area centers on $24.44 per hour, or about $50,840 a year. The lower quarter earns under $18.54 and the upper quarter over $31.36. That ranks 264th of 355 U.S. metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay, and 231st of 317 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 9 hospitals in Birmingham. The free report below lists employers near Birmingham and what they pay.

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More open Medical Laboratory Scientist roles in Birmingham

11 more open roles from employers in Birmingham. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in Birmingham, AL

The metro median is 6% above the Alabama statewide median of $22.97 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.75 per hour. BLS counts about 2,410 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians employed in the Birmingham metro area, 4.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 2.09).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$16.59$34,51044% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.54$38,56038% below U.S. median
Median$24.44$50,84018% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$31.36$65,2305% above U.S. median
Top 10%$39.19$81,52032% above U.S. median

How Birmingham ranks

  • 264th of 355 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 231st of 317 after adjusting for local prices
  • 1st of 8 Alabama metro areas

BLS does not publish a separate figure for medical laboratory scientist. These numbers are for the broader category it belongs to, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2010), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

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Named employers near Birmingham, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Birmingham

  • Overall prices in Birmingham run 8% below the U.S. average (index 91.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 28% below the U.S. average (index 71.9).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $24.44 median hour buys what $26.67 buys at the national price level, 10% below the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Birmingham paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$880
  • Per year: $43,992
  • Per month: $3,666

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Birmingham metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Birmingham

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$126
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,442
13-week assignment$18,746

Travel medical laboratory scientist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Open Medical Laboratory Scientist roles in Alabama

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Birmingham as they open.

All Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Alabama

Hospitals in Birmingham

CMS lists 9 hospitals in Birmingham, 1 of the 7 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical laboratory scientists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Birmingham Va Medical Center
Birmingham, AL		Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital
Birmingham, AL		Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Grandview Medical Center
Birmingham, AL		Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Princeton Baptist Medical Center
Birmingham, AL		Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
St Vincent's Birmingham
Birmingham, AL		Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
St. Vincent's East
Birmingham, AL		Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
University Of Alabama Hospital
Birmingham, AL		Acute careGovernment and federal2 of 5Yes
The Children's Hospital Of Alabama
Birmingham, AL		Children'sNonprofitNot ratedYes
Hill Crest Behavioral Health Services
Birmingham, AL		PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Hoover, AL11 mi$24.44/hr93,013
Tuscaloosa, AL47 mi$22.62/hr114,288
Decatur, AL73 mi$21.40/hr57,974
Huntsville, AL81 mi$22.48/hr230,402
Madison, AL82 mi$22.48/hr64,029
Montgomery, AL87 mi$23.70/hr195,818

Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Alabama · Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Alabama

Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science or a related science. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Alabama requires for your role with the Alabama licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Alabama taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Alabama state guide

Other healthcare roles in Birmingham

Birmingham city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical laboratory scientists make in Birmingham, AL?

Medical Laboratory Scientists in the Birmingham metro area have a median pay of $24.44 per hour, about $50,840 a year. The middle half earn between $18.54 and $31.36 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Birmingham a good place for medical laboratory scientists once cost of living is counted?

Birmingham ranks 231st of 317 metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 264th of 355 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.

Where do medical laboratory scientists work in Birmingham?

CMS lists 9 hospitals in Birmingham, led by Birmingham Va Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Alabama license to work in Birmingham as a medical laboratory scientist?

Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science or a related science. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Alabama requires for your role with the Alabama licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Birmingham?

The federal per diem benchmark in Birmingham is $126 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,442 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place medical laboratory scientists in Birmingham?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Birmingham and across Alabama. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Birmingham.

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What do employers near Birmingham pay medical laboratory scientists? Get the report.

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  1. 1
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    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

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    What they are offering now

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Pay report · Lab Scientist near Birmingham, AL
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Lab Scientist pay reportBirmingham, AL · employer-reported wage offers in federal filings, July 2025 – June 2026

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • University of South AlabamaMobile, AL · 2 wage offers$32.00/ hr$32–$32
  • Vaughan Regional Medical Center, LLCSelma, AL · 2 wage offers$29.88/ hr$30–$30
  • The DCH Health Care AuthorityTuscaloosa, AL · 5 wage offers$29.87/ hr$28–$36
  • The Troy Hospital Health Care AuthorityTroy, AL · 4 wage offers$28.74/ hr$27–$31

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$26Median$28.14High$30

31 employer-reported wage offers for Lab Scientist in federal filings in Alabama, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 1 Lab Scientist roles

  1. Generalist Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) (MT)Permanent
    $25.30–$37.95/ hour
    Advocate Health · Alabama · posted 9 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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