LA · New Orleans · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in New Orleans, LA

The median medical laboratory scientist pay in the New Orleans area is $28.74 per hour ($59,770 a year), with the typical range running from $20.71 to $36.18. That ranks 162nd of 355 U.S. metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay, and 124th of 317 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 10 hospitals in New Orleans. The free report below lists employers near New Orleans and what they pay.

More open Medical Laboratory Scientist roles in New Orleans

2 more open roles from employers in New Orleans. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in New Orleans, LA

The metro median is 5% above the Louisiana statewide median of $27.40 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.75 per hour. BLS counts about 1,000 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians employed in the New Orleans-Metairie metro area, 2.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.02).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$16.87$35,09043% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$20.71$43,08030% below U.S. median
Median$28.74$59,7703% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$36.18$75,25022% above U.S. median
Top 10%$40.93$85,13038% above U.S. median

How New Orleans ranks

  • 162nd of 355 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 124th of 317 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd of 8 Louisiana 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.

Get the New Orleans Medical Laboratory Scientist pay report

Named employers near New Orleans, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in New Orleans

  • Overall prices in New Orleans-Metairie run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 14% below the U.S. average (index 86.0).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $28.74 median hour buys what $31.04 buys at the national price level, 4% 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 New Orleans paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,035
  • Per year: $51,732
  • Per month: $4,311

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the New Orleans-Metairie metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in New Orleans

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$158
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,666
13-week assignment$21,658

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 New Orleans

CMS lists 10 hospitals in New Orleans, 1 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical laboratory scientists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Ochsner Medical Center Acute
New Orleans, LA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System
New Orleans, LA
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal3 of 5Yes
Touro Infirmary
New Orleans, LA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
University Medical Center New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Childrens Hospital
New Orleans, LA
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedYes
New Orleans East Hospital
New Orleans, LA
Acute careGovernment and federalNot ratedYes
St Charles Surgical Hospital
New Orleans, LA
Acute careOtherNot ratedNo
Beacon Behavioral Hospital- New Orleans, Llc
New Orleans, LA
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
Community Care Hospital
New Orleans, LA
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
River Oaks Hospital
New Orleans, LA
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo

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
Kenner, LA19 mi$28.74/hr64,650
Gulfport, MS58 mi$21.95/hr74,621
Mobile, AL117 mi$22.47/hr201,367
Jackson, MS157 mi$29.76/hr141,449
Pensacola, FL166 mi$29.32/hr53,898
Lake Charles, LA196 mi$18.21/hr81,157

Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Louisiana · Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Louisiana

Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science or a related science. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Louisiana requires for your role with the Louisiana licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Louisiana taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Louisiana state guide

Other healthcare roles in New Orleans

New Orleans city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical laboratory scientists make in New Orleans, LA?

Medical Laboratory Scientists in the New Orleans-Metairie metro area have a median pay of $28.74 per hour, about $59,770 a year. The middle half earn between $20.71 and $36.18 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is New Orleans a good place for medical laboratory scientists once cost of living is counted?

New Orleans-Metairie ranks 124th of 317 metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 162nd of 355 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.

Where do medical laboratory scientists work in New Orleans?

CMS lists 10 hospitals in New Orleans, led by Ochsner Medical Center Acute. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Louisiana license to work in New Orleans 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 Louisiana requires for your role with the Louisiana 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 New Orleans?

The federal per diem benchmark in New Orleans is $158 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,666 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 New Orleans?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in New Orleans and across Louisiana. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near New Orleans.

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What do employers near New Orleans pay medical laboratory scientists? Get the report.

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other employers

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

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    What they are offering now

    The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.

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Pay report · Lab Scientist near New Orleans, LA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Lab Scientist pay reportNew Orleans, LA · employer-reported wage offers in federal filings, July 2025 – June 2026

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Ochsner Clinic FoundationNew Orleans, LA · 5 wage offers$21.35/ hr$19–$26
  • Administrators of the Tulane Educational FundNew Orleans, LA · 2 wage offers$21.04/ hr$20–$22
  • CHRISTUS Health Southwestern LALake Charles, LA · 2 wage offers$27.83/ hr$26–$30
  • Ochsner LSU Health System of North LouisianaMonroe, LA · 2 wage offers$27.00/ hr$25–$29

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$22Median$25.60High$26

21 employer-reported wage offers for Lab Scientist in federal filings in Louisiana, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open Lab Scientist roles

Open Lab Scientist roles near New Orleans, LA, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.

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