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 Santa Barbara, CA
Pay for medical laboratory scientists in the Santa Barbara area centers on $24.46 per hour, or about $50,870 a year. The lower quarter earns under $21.22 and the upper quarter over $34.56. That ranks 263rd of 355 U.S. metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay, and 306th of 317 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Santa Barbara. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Santa Barbara.
- $24.46median pay per hour, Santa Maria
- $21–$35typical range per hour
- 280employed in the metro area
- 109cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in Santa Barbara, CA
The metro median is 29% below the California statewide median of $34.58 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.75 per hour. BLS counts about 280 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area, 1.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.62).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.57 | $38,630 | 38% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $21.22 | $44,140 | 29% below U.S. median |
| Median | $24.46 | $50,870 | 18% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $34.56 | $71,880 | 16% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $66.35 | $138,010 | 123% above U.S. median |
How Santa Barbara ranks
- 263rd of 355 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 306th of 317 after adjusting for local prices
- 23rd 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 Santa Barbara
- Overall prices in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara run 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.8, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 51% above the U.S. average (index 151.4).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $24.46 median hour buys what $22.48 buys at the national price level, 24% 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.
Get the Santa Barbara Medical Laboratory Scientist pay report
Named employers near Santa Barbara, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Santa Barbara paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$881
- Per year: $44,028
- Per month: $3,669
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Santa Barbara
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $214 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $92 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,142 |
| 13-week assignment | $27,846 |
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 California
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Santa Barbara as they open.
Per diemPosted yesterday
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
CommonSpirit Health · Sacramento, CA
$75.34–$75.34/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
For youUpdated weekly
230+ more Medical Laboratory Scientist roles for you in California
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 yesterday
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · San Diego, CA
$103k–$154k/ year
New this week
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
San Antonio Regional Hospital · Upland, CA
$45.59–$68.39/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Stat Lab
Labcorp · San Leandro, CA
$48.00–$58.00/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Consumer Genetics
Labcorp · San Diego, CA
$45.00–$58.00/ hour
New this week
Hospitals in Santa Barbara
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Barbara, 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital Santa Barbara, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Santa Barbara, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Santa Barbara County Psychiatric Health Facility Santa Barbara, CA | Psychiatric | Government and federal | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Buenaventura, CA | 28 mi | $36.46/hr | 109,831 |
| Oxnard, CA | 32 mi | $36.46/hr | 200,616 |
| Camarillo, CA | 41 mi | $36.46/hr | 69,881 |
| Thousand Oaks, CA | 50 mi | $36.46/hr | 124,229 |
| Santa Maria, CA | 55 mi | $24.46/hr | 111,346 |
| Simi Valley, CA | 56 mi | $36.46/hr | 125,778 |
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 Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical laboratory scientists make in Santa Barbara, CA?
Medical Laboratory Scientists in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area have a median pay of $24.46 per hour, about $50,870 a year. The middle half earn between $21.22 and $34.56 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Barbara a good place for medical laboratory scientists once cost of living is counted?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara ranks 306th of 317 metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 263rd of 355 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% above the U.S. average.
Where do medical laboratory scientists work in Santa Barbara?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Barbara, led by Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a California license to work in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara?
The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Barbara is $214 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,142 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 Santa Barbara?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Barbara and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Barbara.
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What do employers near Santa Barbara 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 reportSanta Barbara, 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.