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 Cruz, CA
The median medical laboratory scientist pay in the Santa Cruz area is $38.52 per hour ($80,110 a year), with the typical range running from $28.56 to $41.93. That ranks 15th of 355 U.S. metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay, and 34th of 317 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Santa Cruz.
- $38.52median pay per hour, Santa Cruz
- $29–$42typical range per hour
- 100employed in the metro area
- 110cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in Santa Cruz, CA
The metro median is 11% above the California statewide median of $34.58 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.75 per hour. BLS counts about 100 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.44).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $24.14 | $50,210 | 19% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $28.56 | $59,400 | 4% below U.S. median |
| Median | $38.52 | $80,110 | 29% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $41.93 | $87,210 | 41% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $46.46 | $96,640 | 56% above U.S. median |
How Santa Cruz ranks
- 15th of 355 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 34th of 317 after adjusting for local prices
- 6th 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 Cruz
- Overall prices in Santa Cruz-Watsonville run 10% above the U.S. average (index 109.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 64% above the U.S. average (index 164.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $38.52 median hour buys what $35.05 buys at the national price level, 18% 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.
Get the Santa Cruz Medical Laboratory Scientist pay report
Named employers near Santa Cruz, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Santa Cruz paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,387
- Per year: $69,336
- Per month: $5,778
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Santa Cruz
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $148 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,638 |
| 13-week assignment | $21,294 |
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 Cruz 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 Cruz
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center Of Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Santa Cruz County Psychiatric Health Facility Santa Cruz, CA | Psychiatric | For-profit | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville, CA | 15 mi | $38.52/hr | 51,320 |
| Cupertino, CA | 24 mi | $39.37/hr | 58,710 |
| Gilroy, CA | 25 mi | $39.37/hr | 60,390 |
| San Jose, CA | 25 mi | $39.37/hr | 997,368 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 27 mi | $39.37/hr | 133,132 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 28 mi | $39.37/hr | 156,792 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical laboratory scientists make in Santa Cruz, CA?
Medical Laboratory Scientists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area have a median pay of $38.52 per hour, about $80,110 a year. The middle half earn between $28.56 and $41.93 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Cruz a good place for medical laboratory scientists once cost of living is counted?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville ranks 34th of 317 metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 15th of 355 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% above the U.S. average.
Where do medical laboratory scientists work in Santa Cruz?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz, led by Dominican Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a California license to work in Santa Cruz 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 Cruz?
The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Cruz is $148 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,638 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 Cruz?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Cruz and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Cruz.
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What do employers near Santa Cruz 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 Cruz, 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.