PermanentPosted today
Clinical Lab Scientist II (CLS) - Lab - Microbiology
Rady Children's Hospital · San Diego, CA
$50.43–$69.35/ hour
New this week
Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in La Mesa, CA
Medical Laboratory Scientists in the La Mesa area earn a median of $33.77 per hour, about $70,240 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $24.55 and $41.72. That ranks 46th of 355 U.S. metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay, and 144th of 317 once local prices are factored in. 9 open roles with published pay are listed for La Mesa and its metro area. The free report below lists employers near La Mesa and what they pay.
- $33.77median pay per hour, San Diego
- $25–$42typical range per hour
- 3,020employed in the metro area
- 9open roles with published pay in the metro area
Open Medical Laboratory Scientist roles near La Mesa
Roles in other cities of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area.
PermanentPosted yesterday
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · San Diego, CA
$103k–$154k/ year
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
50+ more Medical Laboratory Scientist roles for you in La Mesa, CA
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Consumer Genetics
Labcorp · San Diego, CA
$45.00–$58.00/ hour
New this week
Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Sharp Memorial - Night Shift - Per Diem
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$56.44–$72.83/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Clinical Lab Scientist - Sharp Coronado - Night Shift - Per Diem
Sharp HealthCare · Coronado, CA
$56.44–$72.83/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Sharp Chula Vista - Variable Shifts - Per Diem
Sharp HealthCare · Chula Vista, CA
$56.44–$72.83/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Per diemPosted 15 days ago
Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Sharp Chula Vista - Variable Shifts - Per Diem
Sharp Healthcare · Chula Vista, CA
$56.44–$72.83/ hour
Top 25% pay
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Clinical Lab Scientist - Microbiology
Labcorp · San Diego, CA
$50.00–$58.00/ hour
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Medical Lab Technician (MLT) Profile Chemistry
Labcorp · San Diego, CA
$26.00–$31.00/ hour
Get the La Mesa Medical Laboratory Scientist pay report
Named employers near La Mesa, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring medical laboratory scientists near La Mesa
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Labcorp | 3 | $51.50 |
| Sharp HealthCare | 3 | $64.63 |
| Rady Children's Hospital | 1 | $59.89 |
| Military Treatment Facilities under DHA | 1 | $61.80 |
| Sharp Healthcare | 1 | $64.63 |
Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in La Mesa, CA
The metro median is 2% below the California statewide median of $34.58 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.75 per hour. BLS counts about 3,020 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, 2.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.88).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $22.43 | $46,650 | 25% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $24.55 | $51,060 | 17% below U.S. median |
| Median | $33.77 | $70,240 | 14% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $41.72 | $86,780 | 40% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $59.67 | $124,110 | 101% above U.S. median |
How La Mesa ranks
- 46th of 355 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 144th of 317 after adjusting for local prices
- 12th of 23 California 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.
What your pay buys in La Mesa
- Overall prices in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad run 12% above the U.S. average (index 111.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 79% above the U.S. average (index 179.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $33.77 median hour buys what $30.18 buys at the national price level, 1% above 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 La Mesa paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,216
- Per year: $60,786
- Per month: $5,066
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in La Mesa
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $205 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,037 |
| 13-week assignment | $26,481 |
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).
Hospitals in La Mesa
CMS lists 2 hospitals in La Mesa, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical laboratory scientists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grossmont Hospital La Mesa, CA | Acute care | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Alvarado Parkway Institute Behavioral Health Syste La Mesa, CA | Psychiatric | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Cajon, CA | 4 mi | $33.77/hr | 103,291 |
| Santee, CA | 6 mi | $33.77/hr | 59,104 |
| Temecula, CA | 50 mi | $29.30/hr | 112,431 |
Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in California · Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in California
Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science or a related science. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in La Mesa
La Mesa city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical laboratory scientists make in La Mesa, CA?
Medical Laboratory Scientists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area have a median pay of $33.77 per hour, about $70,240 a year. The middle half earn between $24.55 and $41.72 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is La Mesa a good place for medical laboratory scientists once cost of living is counted?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad ranks 144th of 317 metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 46th of 355 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring medical laboratory scientists in La Mesa?
We list 9 open roles with published pay from 5 employers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near La Mesa.
Do I need a California license to work in La Mesa 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 California requires for your role with the California 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 La Mesa?
The federal per diem benchmark in La Mesa is $205 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,037 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 La Mesa?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in La Mesa and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near La Mesa.
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What do employers near La Mesa pay medical laboratory scientists? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other employers
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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230+ Medical Laboratory Scientist roles in California, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Lab Scientist pay reportLa Mesa, CA · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 3 postings$82.53/ hr$66–$99
- Ucsf Medical CenterSan Francisco, CA · 6 wage offers$71.28/ hr$60–$79
- UCSF Medical CenterSan Francisco, CA · 6 wage offers$67.56/ hr$57–$74
- Sharp HealthCareCoronado, CA · 3 postings$64.63/ hr$56–$73
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$41Median$55.50High$73
49 Lab Scientist postings with published pay in California, 42 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 49 Lab Scientist roles
- Clinical Lab Scientist II (CLS) - Lab - MicrobiologyPermanent$50.43–$69.35/ hour
- Clinical Laboratory ScientistPer diem$75.34–$75.34/ hour
+ 47 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.