← All 785 jobsFile 29-2010
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
Also filed here: Lab technician, Lab tech, Medical lab
Mostly untouched
AI barely touches this work so far. The BLS expects 2.7% more of these jobs by 2035, slower than the 3.5% average.
Clinical work often uses specialised medical AI tools that consumer Copilot data does not see, so this file probably understates how much AI touches it.
- Rank
- Joint #411 of 785 jobs, by how much of the work AI does
- US jobs, 2025 to 2035
- +2.7% All jobs: +3.5%
- Median US pay
- $62,930 a year, 2025
- People doing it
- 343,000 in the US, with about 20,800 openings a year
The work, 31 activities
The job description, marked up.
Every activity in this job, the biggest first. Tap a line for the evidence.
- deleAI does this
- +AIAI helps
- stetStill yours
AI helps with this: Analyze biological or chemical substances or related data17%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 660 conversations, and it got them there 76% of the time.
Still yours: Prepare specimens or materials for testing17%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Confer with healthcare or other professionals about patient care7%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Maintain medical equipment or instruments6%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Collect environmental or biological samples6%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Determine operational methods or procedures6%
AI performed this in about 1 in 461 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
AI does this: Process digital or online data5%
AI performed this in about 1 in 136 Copilot conversations and completed it 81% of the time.
Still yours: Operate laboratory or field equipment4%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Administer diagnostic tests to assess patient health4%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Supervise personnel activities3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Train others on health or medical topics2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,890 Copilot conversations and completed it 95% of the time.
Still yours: Monitor operations to ensure compliance with regulations or standards2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Develop safety standards, policies, or procedures2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Clean medical equipment or facilities2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Prepare medical equipment or work areas for use2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Explain medical information to patients or family members2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 230 Copilot conversations and completed it 96% of the time.
AI helps with this: Verify personal information1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 782 conversations, and it got them there 83% of the time.
Still yours: Prepare health or medical documents1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Follow standard healthcare safety procedures to protect patient and staff members1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Assist healthcare practitioners during medical procedures1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Distribute materials, supplies, or resources1%
AI does this in desk jobs, but in this one it is mostly hands-on.
Still yours: Operate medical equipment1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Maintain operational records1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Prepare mixtures or solutions1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 714 conversations, and it got them there 93% of the time.
AI helps with this: Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 510 conversations, and it got them there 94% of the time.
Still yours: Maintain health or medical records1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 40 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
AI does this: Prepare informational or instructional materials1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 51 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
AI helps with this: Analyze health or medical data1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,718 conversations, and it got them there 85% of the time.
AI helps with this: Research healthcare issues1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 142 conversations, and it got them there 93% of the time.
AI helps with this: Arrange displays or decorations1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,323 conversations, and it got them there 65% of the time.
2025 to 2035
Ten years from now.
For every 100 of these jobs in 2025, the BLS projects 103 in 2035. Across all US jobs, about 104.
About 20,800 openings a year, from growth and from people who retire or move on.
BLS on AIMore automated laboratory workflows let technologists do more with fewer workers. Source ↗
Nearby
Where your skills travel.
Jobs that share the most work with this one, where AI does less of it.
- Shares 37% of the workRespiratory Therapists7% AI does, against 16% here+8.5% by 2035 · $82,280 · Associate’s degree
- Shares 36% of the workMicrobiologists7% AI does, against 16% here+6.2% by 2035 · $87,990 · Bachelor’s degree
- Shares 29% of the workChemical Technicians6% AI does, against 16% here+4.9% by 2035 · $60,390 · Associate’s degree
The wire
On the wire.
Nothing filed about this job yet. The latest from the Health front:
How to read this file.
deleAI does this. In US Bing Copilot conversations from January to September 2024, AI itself performed the activity, completed it and made a real difference often enough to count.
+AIAI helps. People brought the activity to AI as their own goal, and it usually got them there.
stetStill yours. It barely shows up in AI use, AI rarely finishes it, or in this job it needs hands.
Shares are weighted by how much each activity matters in the job, using O*NET. Microsoft’s own AI applicability score for this job is 0.11, higher than 38% of jobs.
Doing an activity is not doing a job. The researchers behind this data warn against reading it as job loss, and so do we. It is US data; the shape of the work travels.
Clinical work often uses specialised medical AI tools that consumer Copilot data does not see, so this file probably understates how much AI touches it.
Sources: Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025) · O*NET OnLine, 29-2010 · BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
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