TX · Waco · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Waco, TX

Medical Laboratory Scientists in the Waco area earn a median of $24.88 per hour, about $51,740 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $20.00 and $32.30. That ranks 255th of 355 U.S. metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay, and 224th of 317 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Waco. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Waco.

Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in Waco, TX

The metro median is 6% below the Texas statewide median of $26.36 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.75 per hour. BLS counts about 270 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians employed in the Waco metro area, 2.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.94).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$18.01$37,46039% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$20.00$41,60033% below U.S. median
Median$24.88$51,74016% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$32.30$67,1809% above U.S. median
Top 10%$40.71$84,68037% above U.S. median

How Waco ranks

  • 255th of 355 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 224th of 317 after adjusting for local prices
  • 11th of 22 Texas 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 Waco

  • Overall prices in Waco run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.5, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 16% below the U.S. average (index 83.5).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $24.88 median hour buys what $26.88 buys at the national price level, 10% 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.

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Estimate your Waco paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$896
  • Per year: $44,784
  • Per month: $3,732
  • Texas has no state income tax on wages.

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

Travel assignment per diem in Waco

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 Texas

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

All Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Texas

Hospitals in Waco

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Waco, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical laboratory scientists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Hillcrest
Waco, TX
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Ascension Providence
Waco, TX
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Oceans Behavioral Hospital Of Waco
Waco, TX
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
Temple, TX33 mi$27.61/hr96,267
Killeen, TX46 mi$27.61/hr160,616
Burleson, TX67 mi$28.46/hr56,253
Georgetown, TX68 mi$28.18/hr101,344
Mansfield, TX70 mi$28.46/hr80,803
DeSoto, TX74 mi$28.46/hr56,711

Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Texas · Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Texas

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

Texas does not tax wage income at the state level, so take-home pay is higher than the same gross pay in a state that does.

Texas state guide

Other healthcare roles in Waco

Waco city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical laboratory scientists make in Waco, TX?

Medical Laboratory Scientists in the Waco metro area have a median pay of $24.88 per hour, about $51,740 a year. The middle half earn between $20.00 and $32.30 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Waco ranks 224th of 317 metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 255th of 355 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.

Where do medical laboratory scientists work in Waco?

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Waco, led by Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Hillcrest. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Texas license to work in Waco 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 Texas requires for your role with the Texas 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 Waco?

The federal per diem benchmark in Waco 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 Waco?

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

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

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

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

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Texas Children's HospitalHouston, TX · 2 wage offers$39.70/ hr$36–$43
  • CommonSpirit HealthHOUSTON, TX · 3 postings$38.45/ hr$31–$51
  • Scott & White Hospital - Marble FallsMarble Falls, TX · 5 wage offers$36.98/ hr$24–$42
  • The Methodist HospitalHouston, TX · 2 wage offers$36.74/ hr$35–$38

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

2What they are offering now

Low$30Median$40.37High$56

4 Lab Scientist postings with published pay in Texas, 4 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 4 Lab Scientist roles

  1. Medical Laboratory ScientistPermanent
    $30.91–$45.98/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Houston, TX · posted today
  2. Clinical Laboratory ScientistPermanent
    $62k–$120k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Amarillo, TX · posted yesterday

+ 2 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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