CA · San Mateo · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in San Mateo, CA

Pay for medical laboratory scientists in the San Mateo area centers on $39.13 per hour, or about $81,390 a year. The lower quarter earns under $28.92 and the upper quarter over $49.17. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in San Mateo. That ranks 8th of 355 U.S. metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay, and 54th of 317 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near San Mateo and what they pay.

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Roles in other cities of the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont area.

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Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in San Mateo, CA

The metro median is 13% above the California statewide median of $34.58 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.75 per hour. BLS counts about 5,860 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area, 2.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.09).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$26.32$54,75012% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$28.92$60,1503% below U.S. median
Median$39.13$81,39032% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$49.17$102,27065% above U.S. median
Top 10%$64.74$134,660118% above U.S. median

How San Mateo ranks

  • 8th of 355 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 54th of 317 after adjusting for local prices
  • 3rd 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 San Mateo

  • Overall prices in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont run 16% above the U.S. average (index 115.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 95% above the U.S. average (index 194.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $39.13 median hour buys what $33.85 buys at the national price level, 14% 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 San Mateo paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,409
  • Per year: $70,434
  • Per month: $5,870

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

Travel assignment per diem in San Mateo

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$183
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,883
13-week assignment$24,479

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 San Mateo

CMS lists 1 hospital in San Mateo. Hospitals are a major employer of medical laboratory scientists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
San Mateo Medical Center
San Mateo, CA
Acute careGovernment and federalNot ratedYes

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
Redwood City, CA6 mi$39.13/hr82,982
South San Francisco, CA7 mi$39.13/hr64,660
Palo Alto, CA15 mi$39.37/hr67,658
Mountain View, CA17 mi$39.37/hr87,316
Sunnyvale, CA20 mi$39.37/hr156,792

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.

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in San Mateo

San Mateo city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical laboratory scientists make in San Mateo, CA?

Medical Laboratory Scientists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area have a median pay of $39.13 per hour, about $81,390 a year. The middle half earn between $28.92 and $49.17 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ranks 54th of 317 metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 8th of 355 before adjusting. Overall prices run 16% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring medical laboratory scientists in San Mateo?

We list 2 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near San Mateo.

Do I need a California license to work in San Mateo 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 San Mateo?

The federal per diem benchmark in San Mateo is $183 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,883 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 San Mateo?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in San Mateo and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near San Mateo.

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Pay report · Lab Scientist near San Mateo, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Lab Scientist pay reportSan Mateo, 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

  1. Clinical Lab Scientist II (CLS) - Lab - MicrobiologyPermanent
    $50.43–$69.35/ hour
    Rady Children's Hospital · San Diego, CA · posted today
  2. Clinical Laboratory ScientistPer diem
    $75.34–$75.34/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Sacramento, CA · posted yesterday

+ 47 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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