MO · St. Joseph · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in St. Joseph, MO

The median medical laboratory scientist pay in the St. Joseph area is $21.79 per hour ($45,320 a year), with the typical range running from $19.00 to $28.56. That ranks 329th of 355 U.S. metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay, and 271st of 317 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in St. Joseph. Tell us your role and we email current openings near St. Joseph.

More open Medical Laboratory Scientist roles in St. Joseph

1 more open role from employers in St. Joseph. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in St. Joseph, MO

The metro median is 21% below the Missouri statewide median of $27.62 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.75 per hour. BLS counts about 130 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians employed in the St. Joseph 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%$17.18$35,73042% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$19.00$39,52036% below U.S. median
Median$21.79$45,32027% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$28.56$59,4004% below U.S. median
Top 10%$38.31$79,68029% above U.S. median

How St. Joseph ranks

  • 329th of 355 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 271st of 317 after adjusting for local prices
  • 7th of 7 Missouri 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.

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

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What your pay buys in St. Joseph

  • Overall prices in St. Joseph run 14% below the U.S. average (index 86.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 45% below the U.S. average (index 55.4).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $21.79 median hour buys what $25.23 buys at the national price level, 15% 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.

Estimate your St. Joseph paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$784
  • Per year: $39,222
  • Per month: $3,268

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

Travel assignment per diem in St. Joseph

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$110
Meals and incidentals per day$68
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,246
13-week assignment$16,198

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 (this is the standard rate that applies here). 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 Missouri

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in St. Joseph as they open.

All Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Missouri

Hospitals in St. Joseph

CMS lists 2 hospitals in St. Joseph, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical laboratory scientists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Mosaic Life Care At St Joseph
Saint Joseph, MO
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Northwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehab Ctr
Saint Joseph, MO
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot 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
Kansas City, KS44 mi$26.97/hr156,752
Kansas City, MO46 mi$26.97/hr516,032
Shawnee, KS51 mi$26.97/hr69,724
Independence, MO53 mi$26.97/hr121,629
Lenexa, KS55 mi$26.97/hr59,427
Blue Springs, MO60 mi$26.97/hr61,246

Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Missouri · Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Missouri

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

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

Missouri state guide

Other healthcare roles in St. Joseph

St. Joseph city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical laboratory scientists make in St. Joseph, MO?

Medical Laboratory Scientists in the St. Joseph metro area have a median pay of $21.79 per hour, about $45,320 a year. The middle half earn between $19.00 and $28.56 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is St. Joseph a good place for medical laboratory scientists once cost of living is counted?

St. Joseph ranks 271st of 317 metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 329th of 355 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% below the U.S. average.

Where do medical laboratory scientists work in St. Joseph?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in St. Joseph, led by Mosaic Life Care At St Joseph. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Missouri license to work in St. Joseph 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 Missouri requires for your role with the Missouri 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 St. Joseph?

The federal per diem benchmark in St. Joseph is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 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 St. Joseph?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in St. Joseph and across Missouri. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near St. Joseph.

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What do employers near St. Joseph pay medical laboratory scientists? Get the report.

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Pay report · Lab Scientist near St. Joseph, MO
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Lab Scientist pay reportSt. Joseph, MO · employer-reported wage offers in federal filings, July 2025 – June 2026

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Guardian Healthcare Providers, Inc.St. Joseph, MO · 3 wage offers$32.55/ hr$31–$34
  • The Children's Mercy HospitalKansas City, MO · 3 wage offers$36.21/ hr$30–$42
  • Mosaic Health SystemAlbany, MO · 3 wage offers$33.71/ hr$29–$39
  • Lake Regional Health SystemOsage Beach, MO · 6 wage offers$33.41/ hr$31–$35

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

2What they are offering now

Low$27Median$30.00High$34

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

3Open now: 1 Lab Scientist roles

  1. Medical Lab Scientist - Capital Region Medical CenterPermanent
    $30.66–$50.01/ hour
    University of Missouri Health Care · Jefferson City, MO · posted 30+ days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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