PermanentPosted 21 days ago
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System · Salinas, CA
$58.06–$69.88/ hour
Top 25% pay
Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Salinas, CA
The median medical laboratory scientist pay in the Salinas area is $29.39 per hour ($61,130 a year), with the typical range running from $24.09 to $37.59. 3 open roles with published pay are listed for Salinas. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Salinas. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Salinas.
- $29.39median pay per hour, Salinas
- $24–$38typical range per hour
- 130employed in the metro area
- 3open roles with published pay
Open Medical Laboratory Scientist roles in Salinas
PermanentPosted 29 days ago
Clinical Laboratory Scientist (ESC) - Blood Bank
Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System · Salinas, CA
$58.06–$69.88/ hour
Top 25% pay
For youUpdated weekly
85+ more Medical Laboratory Scientist roles for you in Salinas, CA
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PermanentPosted 29 days ago
5005 - Clinical Laboratory Scientist (ESC)
Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System · Salinas, CA
$58.06–$69.88/ hour
Top 25% pay
Get the Salinas Medical Laboratory Scientist pay report
Named employers near Salinas, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportMedical Laboratory Scientist pay in Salinas, CA
The metro median is 15% below the California statewide median of $34.58 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.75 per hour. BLS counts about 130 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians employed in the Salinas metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.32).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $23.23 | $48,320 | 22% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $24.09 | $50,110 | 19% below U.S. median |
| Median | $29.39 | $61,130 | 1% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $37.59 | $78,190 | 26% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $63.75 | $132,600 | 114% above U.S. median |
How Salinas ranks
- 138th of 355 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 221st of 317 after adjusting for local prices
- 15th 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 Salinas
- Overall prices in Salinas run 9% above the U.S. average (index 109.0, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 46% above the U.S. average (index 145.7).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $29.39 median hour buys what $26.95 buys at the national price level, 9% 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 Salinas paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,058
- Per year: $52,902
- Per month: $4,408
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Salinas metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Salinas
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $209 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $92 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,107 |
| 13-week assignment | $27,391 |
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 Salinas
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Salinas, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical laboratory scientists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas Valley Health Medical Center Salinas, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Natividad Medical Center Salinas, CA | Acute care | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville, CA | 18 mi | $38.52/hr | 51,320 |
| Gilroy, CA | 22 mi | $39.37/hr | 60,390 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | 30 mi | $38.52/hr | 62,581 |
| San Jose, CA | 43 mi | $39.37/hr | 997,368 |
| Cupertino, CA | 49 mi | $39.37/hr | 58,710 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 50 mi | $39.37/hr | 133,132 |
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 Salinas
Salinas city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical laboratory scientists make in Salinas, CA?
Medical Laboratory Scientists in the Salinas metro area have a median pay of $29.39 per hour, about $61,130 a year. The middle half earn between $24.09 and $37.59 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Salinas a good place for medical laboratory scientists once cost of living is counted?
Salinas ranks 221st of 317 metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 138th of 355 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring medical laboratory scientists in Salinas?
We list 3 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Salinas. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Salinas.
Do I need a California license to work in Salinas 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 Salinas?
The federal per diem benchmark in Salinas is $209 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,107 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 Salinas?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Salinas and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Salinas.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Salinas 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
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Lab Scientist pay reportSalinas, CA · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare SystemSalinas, CA · 3 postings$63.97/ hr$58–$70
- County of MontereySalinas, CA · 4 wage offers$61.88/ hr$46–$71
- MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 3 postings$82.53/ hr$66–$99
- Ucsf Medical CenterSan Francisco, CA · 6 wage offers$71.28/ hr$60–$79
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.