Medical Technologist job description: duties, skills and qualifications.

Core duties

13

O*NET task statements

Preparation

Job Zone 4 of 5

considerable preparation

Typical entry education

Bachelor's degree

BLS 2025–35 · broader occupation

Data Government data groups this job as Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists (O*NET-SOC 29-2011.00). O*NET figures on this page are for that occupation; BLS pay and projections are for the broader BLS occupation, labelled where shown.

1. Analyze samples of biological material for chemical content or reaction. importance 4.8 of 5
2. Analyze laboratory findings to check the accuracy of the results. importance 4.8 of 5
3. Conduct chemical analysis of body fluids, including blood, urine, or spinal fluid, to determine presence of normal or abnormal components. importance 4.8 of 5
4. Enter data from analysis of medical tests or clinical results into computer for storage. importance 4.8 of 5
5. Collect and study blood samples to determine the number of cells, their morphology, or their blood group, blood type, or compatibility for transfusion purposes, using microscopic techniques. importance 4.7 of 5
6. Set up, clean, and maintain laboratory equipment. importance 4.7 of 5
7. Operate, calibrate, or maintain equipment used in quantitative or qualitative analysis, such as spectrophotometers, calorimeters, flame photometers, or computer-controlled analyzers. importance 4.7 of 5
8. Establish or monitor quality assurance programs or activities to ensure the accuracy of laboratory results. importance 4.7 of 5
9. Supervise, train, or direct lab assistants, medical and clinical laboratory technicians or technologists, or other medical laboratory workers engaged in laboratory testing. importance 4.7 of 5
10. Select and prepare specimens and media for cell cultures, using aseptic technique and knowledge of medium components and cell requirements. importance 4.6 of 5
11. Obtain, cut, stain, and mount biological material on slides for microscopic study and diagnosis, following standard laboratory procedures. importance 4.5 of 5
12. Provide technical information about test results to physicians, family members, or researchers. importance 4.3 of 5
13. Develop, standardize, evaluate, or modify procedures, techniques, or tests used in the analysis of specimens or in medical laboratory experiments. importance 4.3 of 5

Work activities O*NET rates most important here: Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards, Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials, Analyzing Data or Information and Processing 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.

• Cultivate, isolate, or assist in identifying microbial organisms or perform various tests on these microorganisms.
• Harvest cell cultures at optimum time, based on knowledge of cell cycle differences and culture conditions.

Knowledge areas: Chemistry, Customer and Personal Service, Computers and Electronics, English Language and Biology.

Software O*NET lists for this occupation: MEDITECH software, eClinicalWorks EHR software, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project. 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 4 of 5 (considerable preparation). A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed 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 technologist.

Most medical technologists surveyed by O*NET (52%) name a bachelor's degree as the education the job requires.

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

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

What you will do
- Analyze samples of biological material for chemical content or reaction.
- Analyze laboratory findings to check the accuracy of the results.
- Conduct chemical analysis of body fluids, including blood, urine, or spinal fluid, to determine presence of normal or abnormal components.
- Enter data from analysis of medical tests or clinical results into computer for storage.
- Collect and study blood samples to determine the number of cells, their morphology, or their blood group, blood type, or compatibility for transfusion purposes, using microscopic techniques.
- Set up, clean, and maintain laboratory equipment.
- Operate, calibrate, or maintain equipment used in quantitative or qualitative analysis, such as spectrophotometers, calorimeters, flame photometers, or computer-controlled analyzers.
- Establish or monitor quality assurance programs or activities to ensure the accuracy of laboratory results.

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 science, critical thinking and active listening
- Working knowledge of Chemistry and Customer and Personal Service
- [Software your team uses, e.g. MEDITECH software or eClinicalWorks EHR 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.

• Read a real medical technologist posting next to the core duties above. Duties it repeats, such as “Analyze samples of biological material for chemical content or…”, 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 technologist work you have actually done, with your own results.
• Prepare a story for each of the top-rated skills (science and critical thinking); medical technologist interview questions turns them into practice questions.