Medical Lab Technician job description: duties, skills and qualifications.

Core duties

9

O*NET task statements

Preparation

Job Zone 3 of 5

medium preparation

Typical entry education

Bachelor's degree

BLS 2025–35 · broader occupation

Data Government data groups this job as Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians (O*NET-SOC 29-2012.00). O*NET figures on this page are for that occupation; BLS pay and projections are for the broader BLS occupation, labelled where shown.

1. Perform quality control analyses to ensure accuracy of test results. importance 4.8 of 5
2. Conduct blood tests for transfusion purposes and perform blood counts. importance 4.7 of 5
3. Conduct chemical analyses of body fluids, such as blood or urine, using microscope or automatic analyzer to detect abnormalities or diseases and enter findings into computer. importance 4.7 of 5
4. Analyze the results of tests or experiments to ensure conformity to specifications, using special mechanical or electrical devices. importance 4.6 of 5
5. Set up, maintain, calibrate, clean, and test sterility of medical laboratory equipment. importance 4.6 of 5
6. Examine cells stained with dye to locate abnormalities. importance 4.5 of 5
7. Prepare standard volumetric solutions or reagents to be combined with samples, following standardized formulas or experimental procedures. importance 4.4 of 5
8. Supervise or instruct other technicians or laboratory assistants. importance 4.2 of 5
9. Consult with a pathologist to determine a final diagnosis when abnormal cells are found. importance 4.1 of 5

Work activities O*NET rates most important here: Getting Information, Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards, Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge and Documenting/Recording Information.

Also part of the job

Supplemental tasks O*NET lists for this occupation: less central than the core duties above, and not done in every job.

• Obtain specimens, cultivating, isolating, and identifying microorganisms for analysis.
• Collect blood or tissue samples from patients, observing principles of asepsis to obtain blood sample.
• Test raw materials, processes, or finished products to determine quality or quantity of materials or characteristics of a substance.
• Analyze and record test data to issue reports that use charts, graphs, or narratives.
• Inoculate fertilized eggs, broths, or other bacteriological media with organisms.

Knowledge areas: Chemistry, English Language, Biology, Medicine and Dentistry and Education and Training.

Software O*NET lists for this occupation: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, MEDITECH software, Google Docs, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint. These are examples O*NET records for the job, not a list of tools every employer uses or a checklist of what you must know.

• Education: BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for the broader occupation.
• Experience: BLS lists no work experience in a related occupation as typical to enter.
• Training on the job: BLS lists no typical on-the-job training once hired.
• Preparation: O*NET places the job in Job Zone 3 of 5 (medium preparation). Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
• Licenses and certifications: not listed here. A license is a legal requirement set by a state; a certification is a credential from a private or professional body. Rules vary by state and employer, and a missing entry on this page does not mean none is required: check with your state's licensing board and see how to become a medical lab technician.

Job title: Medical Lab Technician
[Company] · [City, State] · [Full-time or part-time] · [Pay range, where your state requires one]

About the role
[Company] is hiring a Medical Lab Technician to perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
[One sentence on your team and why this role matters.]

What you will do
- Perform quality control analyses to ensure accuracy of test results.
- Conduct blood tests for transfusion purposes and perform blood counts.
- Conduct chemical analyses of body fluids, such as blood or urine, using microscope or automatic analyzer to detect abnormalities or diseases and enter findings into computer.
- Analyze the results of tests or experiments to ensure conformity to specifications, using special mechanical or electrical devices.
- Set up, maintain, calibrate, clean, and test sterility of medical laboratory equipment.
- Examine cells stained with dye to locate abnormalities.
- Prepare standard volumetric solutions or reagents to be combined with samples, following standardized formulas or experimental procedures.
- Supervise or instruct other technicians or laboratory assistants.

What we are looking for
- [Education: BLS lists a bachelor's degree as typical for this occupation; set the level this role truly needs]
- [Experience: BLS lists no related work experience as typical to enter; set what this role needs]
- Strength in reading comprehension, active listening and operations monitoring
- Working knowledge of Chemistry and English Language
- [Software your team uses, e.g. Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Office software]
- [Any license or certification your state or company requires]

[Schedule, benefits and how to apply]

Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.

Not a real job posting. This template is TryHired's illustration built from government occupational data. It is not an opening at any employer, and no employer wrote it.

BLS projects employment in the broader occupation Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 20,800 openings a year over that period, including openings to replace workers who leave.

See the full medical lab technician salary breakdown by percentile, state and metro.

• Read a real medical lab technician posting next to the core duties above. Duties it repeats, such as “Perform quality control analyses to ensure accuracy of test results”, tell you what that employer weighs most; anything it adds is specific to that team.
• Tailor your resume to the posting, not to this page: describe only medical lab technician work you have actually done, with your own results.
• Prepare a story for each of the top-rated skills (reading comprehension and active listening).