Medical Laboratory Scientist salary in California
Medical Laboratory Scientists in California earn a median of $34.58 per hour, about $71,920 a year, 16% above the U.S. median of $29.75. The middle half earn between $24.97 and $41.17 per hour. The highest median among California metro areas is in Vallejo, CA, at $39.97 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $34.58median pay per hour
- $71,920median pay per year
- 29,460employed in California
- #9of 50 states by median pay
Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in California: percentiles
| Level | California per hour | California per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $22.58 | $46,970 | $18.28 |
| Lower quartile | $24.97 | $51,940 | $22.39 |
| Median | $34.58 | $71,920 | $29.75 |
| Upper quartile | $41.17 | $85,630 | $38.46 |
| Top 10% | $60.40 | $125,630 | $47.11 |
Medical Laboratory Scientist pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs California median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $39.97 | $83,140 | 220 | 16% above | $36.85 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $39.37 | $81,900 | 1,820 | 14% above | $35.65 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $39.13 | $81,390 | 5,860 | 13% above | $33.85 |
| Redding, CA | $38.63 | $80,350 | 70 | 12% above | $38.37 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38.54 | $80,160 | 1,940 | 11% above | $36.13 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $38.52 | $80,110 | 100 | 11% above | $35.05 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $37.15 | $77,260 | 360 | 7% above | $34.47 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $36.83 | $76,600 | 360 | 7% above | $35.05 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $36.46 | $75,840 | 290 | 5% above | $32.99 |
| Napa, CA | $36.19 | $75,280 | 60 | 5% above | $32.15 |
| Merced, CA | $35.05 | $72,900 | 40 | 1% above | $35.67 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $33.77 | $70,240 | 3,020 | 2% below | $30.18 |
| Modesto, CA | $32.45 | $67,500 | 350 | 6% below | $31.17 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $30.02 | $62,430 | 10,270 | 13% below | $26.43 |
| Salinas, CA | $29.39 | $61,130 | 130 | 15% below | $26.95 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $29.30 | $60,950 | 1,430 | 15% below | $27.53 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $28.91 | $60,120 | 380 | 16% below | $28.66 |
| Fresno, CA | $28.75 | $59,790 | 540 | 17% below | $28.14 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $28.65 | $59,590 | 80 | 17% below | $26.38 |
| Visalia, CA | $28.22 | $58,690 | 110 | 18% below | $28.27 |
| Chico, CA | $28.01 | $58,250 | 120 | 19% below | $27.68 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $26.37 | $54,850 | 50 | 24% below | $25.95 |
| El Centro, CA | $25.43 | $52,900 | 50 | 26% below | — |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $24.46 | $50,870 | 280 | 29% below | $22.48 |
Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).
Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in states next to California
What employers are posting in California
- 49roles with published pay
- $55.50median pay per hour
- $42–$73typical published range
- 18employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| CommonSpirit Health | 8 | $63.98 |
| Central Maine Healthcare Corporation | 7 | $47.59 |
| Quest Diagnostics | 7 | $48.22 |
| Labcorp | 5 | $53 |
| Sharp HealthCare | 3 | $64.63 |
| MarinHealth | 3 | $82.53 |
| Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System | 3 | $63.97 |
| ScionHealth | 2 | $50 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 49 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in California · Medical Laboratory Scientist salary nationwide · California state guide
Common questions
How much does a medical laboratory scientist make in California?
The median is $34.58 per hour, about $71,920 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $22.58 and the top 10% earn over $60.40 (BLS, May 2024).
Which California city pays medical laboratory scientists the most?
Among California metro areas, Vallejo, CA has the highest median at $39.97 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does California rank for medical laboratory scientist pay?
California ranks 9th of 50 states by median medical laboratory scientist pay.
Is this the same as the pay in job postings?
No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.
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- 1Pay for your role at other employers
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Your Lab Scientist pay reportCalifornia · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 3 postings$82.53/ hr$66–$99
- Ucsf Medical CenterSan Francisco, CA · 6 wage offers$71.28/ hr$60–$79
- UCSF Medical CenterSan Francisco, CA · 6 wage offers$67.56/ hr$57–$74
- 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.
2What they are offering now
49 Lab Scientist postings with published pay in California, 42 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 49 Lab Scientist roles
- Clinical Lab Scientist II (CLS) - Lab - MicrobiologyPermanent$50.43–$69.35/ hour
- Clinical Laboratory ScientistPer diem$75.34–$75.34/ hour
+ 47 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.