OR · Portland · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Portland, OR

Medical Laboratory Scientists in the Portland area earn a median of $37.58 per hour, about $78,170 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $26.45 and $48.71. That ranks 22nd of 355 U.S. metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay, and 27th of 317 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 9 hospitals in Portland. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Portland.

More open Medical Laboratory Scientist roles in Portland

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

Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in Portland, OR

The metro median is 2% below the Oregon statewide median of $38.29 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.75 per hour. BLS counts about 2,020 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians employed in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metro area, 1.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.75).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$23.14$48,13022% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$26.45$55,02011% below U.S. median
Median$37.58$78,17026% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$48.71$101,32064% above U.S. median
Top 10%$51.59$107,31073% above U.S. median

How Portland ranks

  • 22nd of 355 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 27th of 317 after adjusting for local prices
  • 4th of 6 Oregon 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 Portland, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Portland

  • Overall prices in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro run 5% above the U.S. average (index 105.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 25% above the U.S. average (index 125.1).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $37.58 median hour buys what $35.65 buys at the national price level, 20% 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 Portland paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,353
  • Per year: $67,644
  • Per month: $5,637

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

Travel assignment per diem in Portland

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$155
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,687
13-week assignment$21,931

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 Oregon

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

All Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Oregon

Hospitals in Portland

CMS lists 9 hospitals in Portland, 5 of the 7 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical laboratory scientists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Portland Va Medical Center
Portland, OR
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Adventist Health Portland
Portland, OR
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center
Portland, OR
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Providence Portland Medical Center
Portland, OR
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Providence St Vincent Medical Center
Portland, OR
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
Portland, OR
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Ohsu Hospital And Clinics
Portland, OR
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Shriners Hospital For Children - Portland
Portland, OR
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedNo
Cedar Hills Hospital
Portland, OR
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
Vancouver, WA7 mi$37.58/hr198,992
Beaverton, OR9 mi$37.58/hr98,302
Salem, OR46 mi$30.29/hr180,406
Albany, OR67 mi$34.19/hr57,156
Corvallis, OR74 mi$34.19/hr61,993
Springfield, OR104 mi$38.85/hr61,182

Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Oregon · Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Oregon

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

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

Oregon state guide

Other healthcare roles in Portland

Portland city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical laboratory scientists make in Portland, OR?

Medical Laboratory Scientists in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metro area have a median pay of $37.58 per hour, about $78,170 a year. The middle half earn between $26.45 and $48.71 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro ranks 27th of 317 metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 22nd of 355 before adjusting. Overall prices run 5% above the U.S. average.

Where do medical laboratory scientists work in Portland?

CMS lists 9 hospitals in Portland, led by Portland Va Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Oregon license to work in Portland 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 Oregon requires for your role with the Oregon 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 Portland?

The federal per diem benchmark in Portland is $155 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,687 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 Portland?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Portland and across Oregon. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Portland.

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

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other employers

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    What they are offering now

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Pay report · Lab Scientist near Portland, OR
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Lab Scientist pay reportPortland, OR · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Laboratory Corporation of America HoldingsPortland, OR · 4 wage offers$39.74/ hr$37–$46
  • Providence Health & Services - OregonPortland, OR · 3 wage offers$33.63/ hr$29–$44
  • CommonSpirit OregonRoseburg, OR · 2 wage offers$47.89/ hr$44–$52
  • Saint Charles Health SystemPrineville, OR · 3 postings$47.16/ hr$38–$57

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

2What they are offering now

Low$38Median$47.16High$57

3 Lab Scientist postings with published pay in Oregon, 3 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 3 Lab Scientist roles

  1. Medical Laboratory Scientist or TechnicianPermanent
    $37.73–$56.60/ hour
    Saint Charles Health System · Prineville, OR · posted 15 days ago
  2. Medical Laboratory Scientist or TechnicianPermanent
    $37.73–$56.60/ hour
    Saint Charles Health System · Redmond, OR · posted 29 days ago

+ 1 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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