PermanentPosted 7 days ago
Medical Laboratory Scientist - Quality Control
Quest Diagnostics · Gaithersburg, MD
$32.03–$52.88/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Washington, DC
Pay for medical laboratory scientists in the Washington area centers on $34.27 per hour, or about $71,280 a year. The lower quarter earns under $23.97 and the upper quarter over $41.88. The CMS hospital directory lists 10 hospitals in Washington. That ranks 41st of 355 U.S. metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay, and 113th of 317 once local prices are factored in. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Washington.
- $34.27median pay per hour, Washington
- $24–$42typical range per hour
- 6,320employed in the metro area
- 2open roles with published pay in the metro area
Open Medical Laboratory Scientist roles near Washington
Roles in other cities of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area.
PermanentPosted 29 days ago
Medical Laboratory Scientist
IQVIA · Fairfax, VA
$46k–$96k/ year
For youUpdated weekly
15+ more Medical Laboratory Scientist roles for you in Washington, DC
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Named employers near Washington, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring medical laboratory scientists near Washington
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Quest Diagnostics | 1 | $42.45 |
| IQVIA | 1 | $34.23 |
Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in Washington, DC
The metro median is 9% below the District of Columbia statewide median of $37.81 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.75 per hour. BLS counts about 6,320 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area, 2.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.91).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $21.79 | $45,320 | 27% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $23.97 | $49,860 | 19% below U.S. median |
| Median | $34.27 | $71,280 | 15% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $41.88 | $87,110 | 41% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $49.54 | $103,040 | 67% above U.S. median |
How Washington ranks
- 41st of 355 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 113th of 317 after adjusting for local prices
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 Washington
- Overall prices in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria run 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 51% above the U.S. average (index 151.1).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $34.27 median hour buys what $31.47 buys at the national price level, 6% 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 Washington paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,234
- Per year: $61,686
- Per month: $5,140
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Washington
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $234 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $92 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,282 |
| 13-week assignment | $29,666 |
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 Washington
CMS lists 10 hospitals in Washington, 1 of the 7 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical laboratory scientists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sibley Memorial Hospital Washington, DC | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Medstar Georgetown University Hospital Washington, DC | Acute care | For-profit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Medstar Washington Hospital Center Washington, DC | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| United Medical Center Washington, DC | Acute care | For-profit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Washington Dc Va Medical Center Washington, DC | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| George Washington Univ Hospital Washington, DC | Acute care | For-profit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Howard University Hospital Corp Washington, DC | Acute care | Nonprofit | 1 of 5 | No |
| Children's National Hospital Washington, DC | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | Yes |
| Psychiatric Institute Of Washington Washington, DC | Psychiatric | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| St Elizabeths Hospital Washington, DC | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, VA | 7 mi | $34.27/hr | 159,102 |
| Rockville, MD | 14 mi | $34.27/hr | 68,417 |
| Baltimore, MD | 35 mi | $25.57/hr | 568,271 |
| Lancaster, PA | 87 mi | $30.32/hr | 58,441 |
| Harrisburg, PA | 95 mi | $30.55/hr | 50,649 |
| Wilmington, DE | 98 mi | $31.70/hr | 73,176 |
Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in District of Columbia · Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in District of Columbia
Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science or a related science. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what District of Columbia requires for your role with the District of Columbia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
District of Columbia taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Washington
Washington city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical laboratory scientists make in Washington, DC?
Medical Laboratory Scientists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area have a median pay of $34.27 per hour, about $71,280 a year. The middle half earn between $23.97 and $41.88 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Washington a good place for medical laboratory scientists once cost of living is counted?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ranks 113th of 317 metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 41st of 355 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring medical laboratory scientists in Washington?
We list 2 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Washington.
Do I need a District of Columbia license to work in Washington 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 District of Columbia requires for your role with the District of Columbia 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 Washington?
The federal per diem benchmark in Washington is $234 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,282 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 Washington?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Washington and across District of Columbia. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Washington.
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What do employers near Washington 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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20+ Medical Laboratory Scientist roles in District of Columbia, 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 reportTop-paying employers shown · your District of Columbia list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- MedStar Georgetown Medical Center, Inc.Washington, DC · 2 wage offers$45.55/ hr$35–$54
- Children's National Medical CenterWashington, DC · 5 wage offers$38.46/ hr$28–$48
- MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 3 postings$82.53/ hr$66–$99
- 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. Request your District of Columbia list
2What they are offering now
Low$31Median$38.46High$48
7 employer-reported wage offers for Lab Scientist in federal filings in District of Columbia, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open Lab Scientist roles
Open Lab Scientist roles near Washington, DC, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.