What makes California Paradise for Filipino CLS

70% of CLS in CA are Filipino. most of them got their CA license after trained in Filipin. LFS has been more stricton CLS from other US states than from Filipin. That's interesting!

CA wants to keep their standards high and most Philippine Med Tech school's curriculum meets CA requirements and so maybe that's the reason why there are a lot of Filipinos in the labs in CA (are you sure it's 70%? that seems to be a bit high to me). Anyway, from what I read here, most of the other US state's standards are low and that's why their pay is not as good as it is here. Maybe LFS thinks allowing people from other states to become licensed in CA without completing CA requirements would lower the standards and that is why they take Filipinos instead.

Just my 2 cents.

THIS IS SUCH AN EASY QUESTION TO ANSWER.

American educated techs can't get to California to work there because of the educational requirements mandated by the state to obtain a license. Most American techs only have a 6-7 month internship, because it is not in the hospitals best interest to have techs beyond that due to budgetary constraints, thus in the 80's and 90's there was pressure from the hospitals on the educators to lower the internship time. The hospitals succeeded in their effort, and the requirement time of 1 year was abolished. This allowed hospitals to pick the talent, and drop the losers since the "medical technologists" of the 70s and 80s were created at a surplus, which explains why so many grandmas are in the laboratories now.

Moreover, I'm a Chicago IL tech. I get at least 8 hours of overtime a week. I make what a California tech makes, and I get to enjoy a depressed cost of living---while fiercely paying off my student loans and saving for a house. Life is good for me now. Even though I'm told Chicago, IL is a robust economy, most of my friends don't even make close to me, unless they are a nurse. As far as I'm concerned some of the employers in Chicago are so desperate to get a qualified MT, they will hire you if you don't have a pulse and have the proper credentials.

My third shift is about ready to retire. (Yes all of them)... Intelligent MTs are in scarce numbers. Qualified in fewer numbers. This is having an effect on management. At least at my organization. Maybe you guys are all struggling and suffering... But geez, where I'm at... I bank.

Ok too-da-loo.

I will give it partially to California techs. They will enjoy a depressed cost of living through the next decade as well and their pay is good... although I do think their median cost of living will continue to be higher than the rest of the nations. I will say their licensure requirements are the stiffest, which unfortunately prevents well qualified people from seeking work in California, and it forces them to look elsewhere, which I would submit would increase pay higher, until you stop and think about the number of Filipinos immigrating to California. But there has been steady increases for wages for MTs in the midwest. I don't know about you, but I'm loaded with overtime (still). And as I mentioned above my entire 3rd shift is about to retire. Hell even boohoo state towns are starting to raise their pay for qualified techs slightly. I did the data analysis today checking out rates in Toledo, OH, Cleveland, OH, and Urbana IL..

Food for thought.

What I'm trying to say, is that it's a big nation. And to really get a grasp of what is going on aroung the nation is an extremely difficult thing to do...

CA cost of living is not that bad in many areas. My mortgage with taxes, insurance, and everything is 2k a month, and I live in a decent house in orange county. Many times, the cost of living is overstated, and it's an argument used by those that haven't lived in CA.

As for the pay, CA will always be the highest. In SoCal, many labs are now starting at $32 per hr for no experience and with experience, CLSs can get close to $50. Those rates are for a day shift only with no shift differential. Anonymous, CA labs give much OT also so you can imagine with the OT on top of that rate, CLSs with one job are pushing close to 6 figures depending on which lab they work for. Per diem at Kaiser Permanente is now $54 an hour and $50 at UCLA med center.

All the approved CLS programs in CA have 1 year of rotations and I know that some state colleges still require 1 year of rotations. Some coworkers of mine have come from Texas and Utah and they were allowed to get a license because they fulfilled the 1 year of rotations. Also, many CLSs from the middle east have also been coming into CA because their schooling is 1 year of rotations also in their perspective countries.

I will say this though, it's not all about the money. I am 4 years out of CLS school now, and my classmates are making more than me at different labs. I'm more for the lab environment and prefer working at a place that I enjoy. At my reference lab, my coworkers are cool, no one is really stressed, my lab assistants do much of the work, I mostly release results, TAT for stats is 3 hours, and I have time to talk alot. Almost all hospital labs are not like this.

However, the tradeoff is that my pay is not as high. If I wanted to, I could work at Kaiser and make real money on a pm or graveyard shift. I have friends who work there but it's super busy running like 60 pregnancy tests, 1000 CBCs using that cellophane or whatever it's called which computerizes the manual differentials, 6 body fluids, and no lab assistant to help out all in one shift. With that much work, they deserve to be paid in the 40s.

I suppose it's all about what's important to you. I worked at a large hospital lab before where my pay raises were great each year, but I hated going to work each day. A good balance is needed to enjoy your career.

I know that many on this board hate what they do probably because the lab that they work at puts too much stress on them.

i heard lab proffesionals saying that the economy for California is not so great and starting the next budget year theer will be cuts or even hiring freezes. that might be an even worse situation than the licensure process. do you feel that in your lab there are talks about hiring freezes? from what i see now, cali continues to hire a high number of techs and it seems that this state has one of the largest shortages in the nation.
it is true that not all programs in other states are less than 1 year in rotations. my program is 12 months as well as other programs in tri state area and my school is not even a state school, just a private 4 year school.
it is true because i contacted myself some school in other states and some have rotations as low as 4-5 month. that is in my opinion way to low to be able to practice after graduation.

CA's budget problems would affect mostly the state run hospitals and maybe even the county hospitals if anything. Private hospital systems and reference labs are not affected. However, even the state run hospitals like UCLA, UCI, UC San Diego, and UC Davis medical centers are still hiring and their pay and benefits are excellent.

Due to the large shortage of CLSs in the state, hiring freezes have not affected the lab.

can you apply for a position while the licensure for CA is pending and you have your ASCP? do they look at your application or you are out of luck?
what can you do in the meantime?

It's better to wait for your license before applying. It will come up at the interview.

CLS48 in California said: CA cost of living is not that bad in many areas. My mortgage with taxes, insurance, and everything is 2k a month, and I live in a decent house in orange county. Many times, the cost of living is overstated, and it's an argument used by those that haven't lived in CA.

As for the pay, CA will always be the highest. In SoCal, many labs are now starting at $32 per hr for no experience and with experience, CLSs can get close to $50. Those rates are for a day shift only with no shift differential. Anonymous, CA labs give much OT also so you can imagine with the OT on top of that rate, CLSs with one job are pushing close to 6 figures depending on which lab they work for. Per diem at Kaiser Permanente is now $54 an hour and $50 at UCLA med center.

All the approved CLS programs in CA have 1 year of rotations and I know that some state colleges still require 1 year of rotations. Some coworkers of mine have come from Texas and Utah and they were allowed to get a license because they fulfilled the 1 year of rotations. Also, many CLSs from the middle east have also been coming into CA because their schooling is 1 year of rotations also in their perspective countries.

2k is A LOT of money! That's higher than I would ever pay in Illinois---even if I lived in a good neighborhood!

anonymous in Chicago, Illinois said: 2k is A LOT of money! That's higher than I would ever pay in Illinois---even if I lived in a good neighborhood!

I met with a tech from California on a business trip with a tech from california in her 50's who stated that the cost of living was exorbitant in California. I believe her. Techs might make more, but they pay more.

If you are not getting killed by the housing, also realized that you are being zinged because California is one of the most highly taxed states in the nation. Google search it. These things matter... Saying the cost of living is overstated does not absolve you from your bills.

Spin, spin, spin. Some of the more optimistic views on this forum are clouding reasonable judgement. If you do the research, CA is still one of the most expensive states to live in---in the nation.

It's 1400K but with taxes and insurance its up to 2k. That's for a 300K house in orange county, which is a more expensive area of CA. 2k for a mortgage, property taxes, and home insurance is not a lot of money. When you buy a house you will realize that.

In many places in CA, you can buy a decent house for 200K. I'm sure in many places in Illinois, such as Chicago, houses would cost more than that, maybe less.

8% sales tax, my property taxes around about 1.5%, my state taxes are about 3%.

These aren't that high to me, and I'm pretty sure not that far off in Chicago, Illinois. However, if you're pay is in the low 20s and a CLSs pay in CA is in the high 30s to low 40s, a CLS' salary in CA can go a long way.

The high cost of living areas are LA, some parts of orange county, the bay area, San Francisco, and that's about it. These parts are a small part of the state. Again, to say that CA has too high of a cost of living, you are forgetting about most parts of the state.

The average cost of living index in California is 132.6. In the state of Illinois it hovers at the low 90s. Again more money, less bang for your buck. ASCP techs start at $25 in Chicago now.

anonymous in Chicago, Illinois said: The average cost of living index in California is 132.6. In the state of Illinois it hovers at the low 90s. Again more money, less bang for your buck. ASCP techs start at $25 in Chicago now.

Also keep in mind, bright eyes, the pensions in California will catch up with the taxpayer and the more money you make, the more in red you will be. States clumsy in spending will tax their workers more, which is already why people are moving out of CA. It happened in IL this year, who enjoyed a 3% tax rate for years, and your new democratic governor will be changing things himself this year.

I just did a search in Chicago, Illinois for houses on zillow. It's almost as bad as San Francisco with houses going for 300k to 500k. Comparatively speaking, you can get a nice house for 200K in many parts of CA as I said, while your pay is at least $10 higher an hour in CA vs Illinois. Plus, you mentioned how you do OT, which happens all the time in Cali labs also. You figure CLSs are making a good 40K more a year in CA with the same price of houses compared to Chicago.

Anonymous, you can say what you want, but if you do indeed live in Chicago, you might as well go to a rural part of Illinois to afford a house. The thing about CA is that all over the state, the pay is about the same, but I doubt a rural hospital in Illinois will give $25 an hour.

CA will always be the best in terms of pay for CLSs. I remember a CLS posting about having a house in Sacramento which cost 200K. He has a family and makes just under 100K a year and his wife doesn't work. CLSs make bank in CA and if you live in a cheap area, who cares about statistics, it's reality and you can live comfortably in CA as a CLS.

Ok again, let's back up and just use facts to support my argument. I don't want to go over anyones head. I just want to be plain, simple, and use information that is available to everyone off of trusted websites.

MEDIAN medical technologist pay in San Fran, CA is: $71,672
(per salary.com)

MEDIAN medical technologist pay in Chicago, IL is: $63,522
(per salary.com)

Again, I don't like going off what one or two yahoos say they make on this forum, instead I stick to the facts. The facts are a Urban California tech makes about $8000 more than an Urban Illinois tech a year, and I make that much back in overtime working an extra shift every 2 weeks. What you are the only med tech in the nation that thought they could scratch the 70,000 ceiling?

I do believe that overtime is available in California. As I have conceded in the past, if you work overtime once or twice a week, or if you work a second job, you can probably run circles around what an Illinois tech makes, but as the angry tech from California said on my business trip: "Have you considered the increased cost of living in California, it's ridiculous?", and after taking a close look at the dark, deep, and engraved circles in her eyes I began to do some research. The truth of the matter is that you will be paying more for it. I can find 40,000 articles on the increased cost of living in California. Here is one.

frugalzeitgeist.com/cost-of-living-in-california/

Lastly the Illinois housing market has been one of the slowest falling. Also a true zillow to zillow or trulia to trulia analysis of the housing market will not show the big picture. The truth of the matter is that California house prices have been dropping for years, and Illinois drops were more modest in the early years of the recession, but last year house prices dipped a whopping 9% in the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville area. Analysts and realitors have serious concerns considering everybody is making closer (continued)

to what I make a year. So people are expecting more drops. I should be able to buy the house of my dreams which costs $280k now, which I expect will be about 250k (worse case) or 230k (best case) by the time I'm a potential buyer, but that's the housing index, and that's a whole seperate conversation from a cost of living index. Heh!

Also do yourself a favor, and if you go on trulia there is a cost of living map. The whole state of California (even some of the rural areas) are painted in red. It's high, high, high. So continue to attract kids to come out there. They aren't considering all the factors. Unless you work two jobs, CA is not worth the hassle.

Again the issue continues to get deeper as well. In a decade much will change in your state as the rich move out to escape the debt vacuum the state will become. The same policies that were created to enhance your parents life will inhibit yours. State income taxes were just raised in Illinois, and a state that is looking to be bailed out by the nation will soon look to policies that will enforce a higher tax policy on their residents. This is called fiscal responsibility. As the wall street journal writes "Blue state blues". Moreover, it is also likely CLS programs will continue to churn out more new young techs year after year as interest increases in one of the few professions that you can actaully maintain a decent paying career in. Also Filipinos, who don't get macro economics will continue to migrate to the state of California, namely attracted to the higher pay, and a high number of Filipino residents. There is also a chance (although only a small one) that somebody might lobby against the rigid legislation in the state and axe the requirements---this just happened a few years ago in Georgia (I think).

There are a lot of chess pieces on the board CLS48, and maybe there are are a few too many for us to make an exact call on the future of the profession, but a lot of folks are retiring soon, and I'm getting ready to hear about a salary survey that is being done at work tomorrow so our hospital can remain competitive with other hospitals in the area on MT pay.

Things are looking up over here, and I hope they are in California as well :)

I looked at that page, Most of the red parts are on the coastal part which would be the expensive parts, namely LA and the bay area. What's in cost of living? A large part of cost of living is housing prices. If you say that your dream house is 280K, I'm telling you there are many nice houses in areas of CA that are that price. Cost of living might also include renting apartments which can go for $1100 for a one bedroom depending on the area.

What else factors into cost of living? State taxes which you said yourself is about 3%. Food prices may be a bit higher, but I can buy a loaf of bread for 99 cents and a gallon of milk for $2.95 at stater bros so I doubt there's not that much difference there. Now gas prices in some parts of CA may be higher, I'll give you that. It's hitting about $3.20 a gallon in my area now.

Other than that, there's not that much else that's included in cost of living. You say the median pay of a med tech in Chicago is 63K a year which would be something like $30 an hour. Somehow, I don't believe many CLSs make $30 an hr there particularly if no license is required in that state, and MLTs probably can release results there. Why would hospitals pay that much for CLSs?

Either way, you can believe some article written by some person living in CA, or listen to some old lady's opinion who lives in CA, who by the way probably lives in an expensive area like San Francisco, and generalize that to the whole state. Or you can actually do research on housing prices in other parts of CA and realize that CLSs in CA do make probably 30K to 40K more than you and still live comfortably.

Granted the discussion gets even deeper my neighbor and your neighbor arguably might be better places to work than our state. Nevada (Las Vegas) boasts some of the lowest house prices in the nation and you can bank with almost unlimited overtime oppurtunities out there!

Moreover, I talked to a tech in Michigan who is having no hard time finding cheap housing.

I'm not even sure I'm going to end up in Illinois, my options are varied, but right now I will take my $70,000 in pay, and pay my $7000 in rent... yawns...

I seem to have as much experience as you, but I do have a per diem job where I work 4 days extra a month, on top of my FT job where I do get a few hours of overtime a paycheck. My salary in total is under 6 figures, but could be over if I wanted to work more. I don't though, because I want a life too.

I paid off my 60K of student loans in 3 years, and then bought a 300K house. My mortgage including property taxes, MIP, and escrow as I said is 2K a month. If your dream house is 280K, you are probably looking at a similar type of monthly payment if you get an FHA loan.

As you also said, you are still paying off student loans and probably saving for that downpayment. Granted, I do have that second job that gives me an extra $1200K a month from working just 4 extra days. However, you did say you work 8 hours of OT a week which is 16 hrs extra a paycheck, making it equal to my extra hours at my second job, but yours would be time and a half. You also work a night shift with that differential and I only work days because I like to have a life.

My point is my salary has allowed me to be in this position, faster than you because my pay is higher, even if you work graveyard with all that OT. You should not minimize the power of higher pay, particularly when I'm trying to explain to you that my cost of living is not that much higher than yours. As I said, our mortgages, once you buy that house will be similar. So my advice to you, if you really do care about money, is to move to CA, but not an expensive area. For the same amount of hours you put in your job at your hospital, if you work at a larger hospital in CA, you could easily be making 90K with all that OT.

Again I make my 70k, and I like it... I'm on track to pay off all of my 55k in college loans in 3.5 years... and I am not attracted to the going up 40 steps in the cost of living index. No offense. Granted I'm sure you do ok for yourself. :)

Moreover, it sounds like we work about the same amount of hours.

And hey I have a life, you are mean :(

Nah again, read any article about the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville area. You are not addressing the housing drops of the last year. They are DRASTIC! And your point does little to address it. Where people make less money, housing prices will be less. Plain and simple

cost of living by city:
www.stlrcga.org/x436.xml

One site says it costs 42% more to live in SF than CA than IL, another says 39%... I am being lied too, by everybody besides you... Rolls eyes...

Look, just don't be a small picture guy. Man up there is more than how much your bottom line is. You know it, and I know it. You are blatently misleading people, and I don't think they deserve that. Yes you can make more in California, but when it comes to groceries, buying your kids huggies, paying ridiculous property tax, and supporting a huge government apparatus... People feel it. You can ignore the facts, and just expect people to believe what you say Oh so holy CLS48. The reality is yes, some of what you are saying is true, but you are sh#tting on my points, which are very good. And that's horrible of you.

www.zillow.com/homes/Moreno-Valley,-CA_rb/

Moreno Valley is a city just outside of Loma Linda, where I did my CLS program. Loma Linda Medical center is a large hospital where half of my classmates work. My classmates are actually paid more than me now, making about $36 an hour without differential.

If you go to that website, a 4 bedroom 3 bathroom 2400 sq ft house costs 194K. With that kind of salary, and that kind of price on a house, you could easily afford it comfortably. I myself would want to live in that area but my family lives in the LA, OC area so I don't live there. Many areas in what is called the Inland Empire in southern CA have those kind of prices. Riverside, CA is similar in price and many parts of San Bernardino county are similar as well.

As I said, the pay at most hospitals in similar yet that are many areas that have low prices. Moreno Valley is not rural either, it's more of a suburban type area, much like Riverside.

www.zillow.com/homes/San-Bernardino,-CA_rb/

San Bernardino, CA 4 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom 2700 sq ft house for 255k.

www.zillow.com/homes/Modesto,-CA_rb/

Modesto, CA in central CA, 4 bed 2 bathroom, 2000 sq ft house for 175K.

www.zillow.com/homes/stockton,-CA_rb/

Stockton, CA in northern CA, 4 bed 2 bathroom, 2000 sq ft house for 124K.

www.zillow.com/homes/Madera,-CA_rb/

Madera, CA in norhtern CA, 4 bed, 2 bathroom 1600 sq ft house for 119k

I could keep going. CA is a big state with cheap prices in many areas. However, CLS pay because of the shortage of licensed personnel starts at $30 in southern CA to $35 in northern, CA, yet housing prices are low in many areas. Shall you keep going on about a high cost of living now in CA when I'm showing you concrete examples? So what if I pay 50 cents more a gallon lol.

I'm actually convincing myself to move lol. My house is ok, but for the 300K I paid, I could buy a mansion just 40 miles east outside of orange county. It is actually one of my goals to buy a larger house. There are several personal factors why I don't move to a different area, but let's just say if I was single or had the ability to move easily, such as yourself anonymous, I would in a heartbeat.

For those young CLSs that can get a CA CLS license, as you can see from above, if you find the right suburban area in CA with low housing prices, you can live basically off of one salary alone in a large house with a family.

I just talked to my coworker, who graduated from the Phillippines, and works FT at Kaiser Permanente on a pm shift. She had about 15 years of experience when she started at kaiser a year ago and her pay was $42 an hour without differential. She said she's received 3 raises since then and her pay has increased $5.50 an hour all in one year. With her differential she's making over $50 an hour. On top of that kaiser's hmo does not take an insurance premium out of their paychecks because it's free. It actually makes me sick knowing I could get paid more like that at a different lab.

Oh wow...I wanna move to CA now...lol..Currently I am a histotechnologist that moved to NYC. I'm not so sure now its the best place for me...granted there are plenty of jobs here for me however given the fact that there are state licensure requirements for ALL techs (not just the med techs but histotechs as well) I assumed the pay rate would be higher but it isn't. I've been looking into travel nationwide and even internationally. CLS48 can you give me any insight into the histotechnology arena in CA? Do you know any histotechs. Also I am ASCP certified as a histotechnologist (HTL)

I am not to sure about histotechs, but I think they require a CA histotech license.The pay might be somewhat similar to CLSs from what I remember, but you're better off doing more research on it.

CLS48 in California said: CA cost of living is not that bad in many areas. My mortgage with taxes, insurance, and everything is 2k a month, and I live in a decent house in orange county. Many times, the cost of living is overstated, and it's an argument used by those that haven't lived in CA.

As for the pay, CA will always be the highest. In SoCal, many labs are now starting at $32 per hr for no experience and with experience, CLSs can get close to $50. Those rates are for a day shift only with no shift differential. Anonymous, CA labs give much OT also so you can imagine with the OT on top of that rate, CLSs with one job are pushing close to 6 figures depending on which lab they work for. Per diem at Kaiser Permanente is now $54 an hour and $50 at UCLA med center.

All the approved CLS programs in CA have 1 year of rotations and I know that some state colleges still require 1 year of rotations. Some coworkers of mine have come from Texas and Utah and they were allowed to get a license because they fulfilled the 1 year of rotations. Also, many CLSs from the middle east have also been coming into CA because their schooling is 1 year of rotations also in their perspective countries.

Whoah! Where can I find that $32/hr starting rate IN SoCal?! I'm a newly licensed CLS with no experience and I was offered just $28/hr to start. SoCal sounds good to me!

$28 sounds a bit low for up north. Supposedly norcal starts even higher, but maybe that's in the bay area or around San Francisco. If you work in a reference lab, a rural area, or a small hospital, I can see how.

You can get $32 or more at the larger hospitals in socal like the UC medical centers or a Kaiser hospital.

NewCLS in San Mateo, California said: Whoah! Where can I find that $32/hr starting rate IN SoCal?! I'm a newly licensed CLS with no experience and I was offered just $28/hr to start. SoCal sounds good to me!

$28/hr in Northern California? That's bull! Go apply somewhere else because I'm pretty sure you will easily find other employers who are willing to pay more than that, especially in NorCal. There are lots of CLS jobs available. Apply to many jobs and pick the one that you like best and pays the best.

Yea I agree. They are really lowballing you with $28 an hour. Norcal consistently pays more than Socal, and in Socal $28 an hr nowadays is considered low. You might have gone through a recruiter, and recruiters get part of your pay, which is why your pay is lower. Try going straight to the lab for a job.

The offer is in SoCal for a known dx lab. Yes, I went thru a recruiter. I actually got the job but due to some enlightenment in this Forum, I will consider other options. I mean $600 is a considerable salary difference ($28 vs $32). Will Kaiser Hospital accept direct application thru the Hospital HR, or must everything be done online and wait?

MEDIAN medical technologist pay in San Fran, CA is: $71,672
(per salary.com)

MEDIAN medical technologist pay in Chicago, IL is: $63,522
(per salary.com)

MEDIAN medical technologist pay in Sacramento, CA is: $63,286
(per salary.com)

MEDIAN medical technologist pay in Redding, CA is: $57,569
(per salary.com)

MEDIAN medical technologist pay in Stockton, CA is: $62,143
(per salary.com)

Strangely, there is no data to support your thesis that urban medical technologists make equal amounts to medical technologists in semi-urban/rural areas in California... Hmm...

Want some more, bright eyes? Also I hope you are enjoying the traffic in SF, I hope your commute is not too long to get back to that $2000 a month mortgage! LOL

$24,000 a year up in smoke... Hope that doesn't cut into your take home too much LOL

Anonymous, your median prices from salary.com are not that accurate. In my area it says the pay is 57K but I make a lot more than that with one job. I don't live in SF either. Think what you want as I've already pretty much stated a more convincing argument of concrete examples of houses in CA that are cheap. You are trying to attack the pay of CLSs now, but you can ask any CA CLS on this forum how much they get paid, and most will probably say a number above $30 an hr.

NewCLS, a reference lab plus going through a recruiter is exactly the reason why they are lowballing you. Go on the internet and apply directly to hospital lab jobs online. In that area, you will find a higher salary.

I don't buy it. I don't think you are accurate.

I'd rather stick to the big sites that pool data over just what 3 or 4 people post on a website. I really would like concrete data if you can show me, but I'm not finding it.

Also consumer price index statistics, (which takes into account housing, medical costs, food, gas, etc) show it is about 6% cheaper to live in Chicago than SF or LA.

So again, my 70k a year would be 74k in CA. Not a huge chunk of change but something. This is off the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

I do however challenge you to prove me wrong as I think you are blowing smoke up everyones butt.

I want concrete data on salary info. Show me the website, and the pooled data! Also make sure it's reliable. K thanks bye.

CLS48...I took your advice and did the research and Histotechs in CA are not required to have a state license...lucky for me I have my ASCP and that is exactly what the employers seem to asking for...right now I am just looking for some examples of pay so I can make a more informed decision..thanks for you help.
Also @NewCLS..i don't live in Cali, but the med techs that I work with in my hospital all drool at the Cali pay...that starting salary is what someone might see here in a big city hospital (heavy emphasis on might) then again I am not to sure because every offer I have gotten here for histotech positions are consistently higher than that of a med tech (our population is even smaller that med techs hence the heavier pay rate)...All in all...even I think that they are low balling you. Best of luck