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Clinical laboratory scientist salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$108,530median pay per year in California, or $52.18 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $62,440lowest 10% earn less
  2. $80,06025th percentile
  3. $108,530median
  4. $141,36075th percentile
  5. $183,420top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $87,990[3]

The median pay for clinical laboratory scientists in California was $108,530 a year[1]. That was $20,540 above the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
2,600[4]
Rank by median pay
2 of 42[5]
Compared with US median
+23.3%[6]

How much do clinical laboratory scientists make in California?

Half of the clinical laboratory scientists in California earned more than $108,530 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $52.18 an hour[1]. The average was a little higher at $114,790[7]. Across the US, the median was $87,990, so California paid $20,540 more, or 23.3% higher[3][6]. California had the 2nd highest median among the 42 states with a published figure[5]. Against all jobs in the state, where the median was $58,240, this job paid $50,290 more[8][9].

At the low end, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $62,440[2]. At the high end, the top-paid 10% earned more than $183,420[2]. The middle half of the group fell between $80,060 and $141,360[2].

By metro area, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median at $130,070[10]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had a median of $123,910, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had $100,420[11]. These figures cover wage and salary jobs only. Self-employed workers are left out, and so are bonuses and the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for clinical laboratory scientists in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$108,530[1]$87,990[3]
Median per hour$52.18[1]$42.30[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$62,440[2]$54,670[13]
Top 10% earn more than$183,420[2]$150,000[13]
Jobs2,600[4]18,940[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for clinical laboratory scientists, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$100,420780
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$130,070700
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$108,900270
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$123,910190
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$112,470150
Modesto, CA$59,47080
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$102,59070
Fresno, CA$91,89030

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for clinical laboratory scientists in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$89,220170
Arizona$69,88080
Nevada$64,490110

Median pay for clinical laboratory scientists in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for clinical laboratory scientists are projected to grow 6.2% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: bachelor's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a clinical laboratory scientist make in California?
The median was $108,530 a year in May 2025, and the average was $114,790[1][7]. The US median was $87,990[3].
How much does a clinical laboratory scientist make an hour in California?
The median was $52.18 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $30.02 an hour and the 90th percentile was $88.18[17].
Which city in California pays clinical laboratory scientists the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median among the 11 metro areas with a published figure, at $130,070 a year[10].
Is California a good state for clinical laboratory scientists?
California ranked 2nd for median pay out of 42 states with a published median[5]. Its median was $20,540 above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a clinical laboratory scientist in California?
Across the US, the typical education for entry is a bachelor's degree, with no work experience or on-the-job training needed[16]. This is a US figure, not one for California.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Microbiologists in California was $108,530 per year and $52.18 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Microbiologists in California: 10th percentile $62,440, 25th percentile $80,060, 75th percentile $141,360, 90th percentile $183,420. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Microbiologists in the US as a whole was $87,990 per year and $42.30 per hour, with about 18,940 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 2,600 people worked as Microbiologists in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 2nd highest median annual wage for Microbiologists out of the 42 states with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Microbiologists in California ($108,530) was $20,540 (23.3%) higher than the US median ($87,990). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Microbiologists in California was $114,790 per year and $55.19 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Microbiologists in California was $50,290 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 11 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Microbiologists, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA had the highest median annual wage, $130,070. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Microbiologists in the US: 10th percentile $54,670, 25th percentile $67,100, 75th percentile $122,350, 90th percentile $150,000. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Microbiologists in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $89,220; Arizona $69,880; Nevada $64,490. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Microbiologists is projected to grow 6.2% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,500 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Microbiologists: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Microbiologists in California: 10th percentile $30.02, 25th percentile $38.49, 75th percentile $67.96, 90th percentile $88.18. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.