Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS/MT) Salary in California
Median annual base pay is $80,808 across 147 reported Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS/MT) salaries in California.
Median hourly rate is $38.35 per hour.
Updated 7 October 2026
Salary Distribution (By Percentile)
| P10 | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $56,576 | $58,656 | $80,808 | $109,200 | $135,990 |
Top Cities in California
| City | Median | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| Merced | $99,320 | 6 |
| West Hills | $85,634 | 7 |
| San Francisco | $80,441 | 6 |
| El Centro | $72,925 | 6 |
| Los Angeles | $72,800 | 5 |
| San Juan Capistrano | $56,576 | 43 |
Top Employers in California
| Employer | Median | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| Dignity Health | $99,320 | 9 |
| Quest Diagnostics Incorporated | $85,634 | 25 |
| Management Health Systems, LLC | $56,576 | 33 |
By Practice Setting
| Setting | Median | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital Laboratory | $119,392 | 45 |
| Reference / Commercial Laboratory | $87,776 | 27 |
| Staffing / Travel Agency | $56,576 | 44 |
Salary by Level
| Level | Common titles | Median | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior / Early Career | Medical Laboratory Scientist · Medical Technologist · Clinical Laboratory Scientist | $79,768 | 124 |
| Mid-Level | Medical Laboratory Scientist II · Medical Technologist II · Clinical Laboratory Scientist II | $106,496 | 7 |
| Lead / Expert | Cytotechnologist · Histotechnologist · Cytogenetics Technologist | $107,910 | 5 |
| Manager | Laboratory Manager · Laboratory Supervisor | — | 1 |
How They're Paid
| Model | Median | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $79,768 | 118 |
| Annual Salary | $120,211 | 24 |
Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS/MT) salaries in other states
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Common questions
How much does a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS/MT) make in California?
The median Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS/MT) salary in California is $80,808 per year, based on 147 reported salaries.
What is the hourly rate for a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS/MT) in California?
The median reported rate is $38.35 per hour.
Which city in California pays Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS/MT)s the most?
Merced has the highest median at $99,320 per year, of the cities with enough reports to publish a median.
How much does a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS/MT) at the Lead / Expert level make in California?
$107,910 per year at the median — $27,102 above the Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS/MT) median in California.
Which employers pay Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS/MT)s the most in California?
Of the employers with enough reports to publish a median, Dignity Health is highest at $99,320 per year.
Am I underpaid as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS/MT)?
All Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS/MT) salaries · Browse salaries by role