The true facts about MT salaries and pay

I'm currently going through my clinicals as a Student. I'm at a County hospital and the average pay starting out is around $18 - $19 with $2 shift diff.

In Tennessee MLTs do everything an MT does, even issue blood. At the hospital I'm at I've noticed most of the techs are MTs though. So far I've only noticed 1 MLT out of the 15 or so people I've met.

I am shocked that in cleveland you can't find MLT job...I was considering the program ...

Trust me. There are very few MT/MLT openings across Ohio. With the current depressed economy, it's even worse. Yesterday, Samaritan told us they will start lay-offs if their financial picture gets worse. In the biggest cities, there is more competition for relatively few jobs. The average lab tech is an overweight white female(no offense). I am a handsome, white, athletic, slim male who graduated with distinction from Stark State. I also carried a 4.0 after completing 3 semesters at Akron U. So on paper, I should have had an easier time finding a job, but in the real world of healthcare, I don't fit the mold. For example, all my white female classmates(most of whom were markedly overweight) received job offers right away. On the other hand, the lab director who hired me is a MALE. He was the only MALE who interviewed me. I can only assume personal bias is alive and strong in the hiring process in healthcare. I'm also older, late 40s, although I look, walk and behave much younger. An educated guess tells me that few want to hire older applicants with little to no experience and that healthcare will always be dominated by women with a bias to hire more females.

I'd also like to add that I like my lab tech job at Samaritan. The lab is clean, bright and new. I'm a generalist who often gets "stuck" in processing because most experienced techs don't like it because it's the busiest department. However, I don't mind it and I never complain because being a lab tech is the best job I've ever had. The lab director has told me he likes me and wants to keep me. I get along with everybody there and I'm a lot less "uptight" now that I'm past my probationary period and have more experience. Nevertheless, the threat of lay-offs looms and I'll probably among the first to get cut since I'm the newest.

Mltguyohio, another reason why, at least in my neck of the woods, most job offers go to the MT (ascp), most of the job descriptions was BS MT preferred.

need advice, i am a new grad and will be having an interview on monday for MT position in houston. i need some tips on how to negotiate my pay. i intend to work the graveyard shift and they usually pay about $48000-$50000 for entry level. how much shift diff should i ask for and what else should i have in mind to ask while i am interviewing? PTO's etc

magneto05 in Houston, Texas said: need advice, i am a new grad and will be having an interview on monday for MT position in houston. i need some tips on how to negotiate my pay. i intend to work the graveyard shift and they usually pay about $48000-$50000 for entry level. how much shift diff should i ask for and what else should i have in mind to ask while i am interviewing? PTO's etc

At my workplace, the evening dif is $2.50 and $3.00 for night shift. Weekend dif is $3.00 per hour.

You usually don't negotiate pay as a new grad. They will have the low end of the scale of the pay which is where you'll be at with no experience. The differential will also be set already so that's probably not negotiable. The way this economy is, you'd be better off not mentioning anything about salary and just take anything they give you as long as it's not that low.

This discussion is the very reason I left the lab after 13 years. I have worked as a generalist on 2 and 3 shift, went to days became a specialist in hematology and a clinical instructor for a MLT program then left the laboratory. I took my passion for Laboratory science and went into the business sector. I am now appreciated and compensated appropriately for my contributions. I urge anyone with a MT(ASCP) BS to explore all opportunities not just laboratory based careers. Good Luck.

MT ASCP Got out in Dover, Ohio said: This discussion is the very reason I left the lab after 13 years. I have worked as a generalist on 2 and 3 shift, went to days became a specialist in hematology and a clinical instructor for a MLT program then left the laboratory. I took my passion for Laboratory science and went into the business sector. I am now appreciated and compensated appropriately for my contributions. I urge anyone with a MT(ASCP) BS to explore all opportunities not just laboratory based careers. Good Luck.

Right on! I agree.

MT ASCP Got out in Dover, Ohio said: This discussion is the very reason I left the lab after 13 years. I have worked as a generalist on 2 and 3 shift, went to days became a specialist in hematology and a clinical instructor for a MLT program then left the laboratory. I took my passion for Laboratory science and went into the business sector. I am now appreciated and compensated appropriately for my contributions. I urge anyone with a MT(ASCP) BS to explore all opportunities not just laboratory based careers. Good Luck.

What is your position in the business sector?

I currently work in the Bay Area at a major biotech company, making a decent living. By working towards CLS licensure, I can potentially be earning significantly more. In addition, the tuition fees and relative time committment for a one year CLS program are hard to compete with.

CLS48 in California said: So you're saying on the east cost MLTs can verify and release results? Can they also issue and crossmatch blood? Can they also identify bacteria and release those results to doctors?

I highly doubt that. If they could, then there would be no difference between MT and MLTs and MLTs would get paid the same as MTs.

Don't take any bets on this. I work in a hospital lab with MTs and MLTs and yes, they do blood bank and verify and release results. They also get the same pay. Not every hospital does it but there are enough to make an MLT associate degree a really good deal for the student.
I have worked in this field for over 30 years and make approximately 28 dollars an hour. You have to work weekends, holidays, and extra shifts when required (mandated to work, its in every hospital contract).
If you think 28 dollars an hour is OK, go for it.

An MT or CLS is basically worthless. In San Antonio, hospitals prefer to hire military trained and MLTs. The Jr. College here that offers an associates in MLT takes rejects from other programs (rejected from AA in nursing (RN and LVN), radiology, sonography, etc. Basically an MLT and an MT is at the bottom of the food chain as far as allied health "professionals".

This field pays LOW b/c they do not have restrictions about certain degrees at some hospital settings. For instance I worked at a speciality blood bank reference lab, where they just hired BS MT (ASCP) and I got paid well. Once I ventured out to some hospitals, they have no standards. They would hire MLT, MA's, AMT certs, and I did not even make as close to what I was making when I was working for a strict employeers that would only hire with credentials. So what people are saying is correct. If you have standards they are FORCED to pay better b/c they have NO ALTERNATIVE.

I hear reference labs and independent labs pay a lot more than Hospitals. Most likely because they want to stay competitive. Hospitals are always looking for a way to cut costs.

Exactly hospitals are always looking to hire cheap labor, but if you have standards like other anciallary fields with standard degree or license, employers have no other choice than to pay well.

These are the qualifications for one of your local hospitals. Very, very sad.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience:

A. High school diploma (or equivalent), with 11 years of clinical lab experience.

-OR-

B. 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of academic credit from an accredited college or

University, including 24 hours of medical technology or 24 hours of science including 6 hours of chemistry, 6 hours of biology and 12 hours of courses in chemistry, biology or medical technology combination, and successful completion of a 50 week U.S. military medical laboratory training course.

-OR-

C. Associates Degree from an accredited MLT training program.

-OR-

D. Bachelors Degree from a 4 year accredited CLS program.

What is this constant whining about the presumed low pay in this field???? If you don't like it and think you're better than it, get OUT!!! For 8 long years from the age of 40 to 48, I made ZERO income and filed ZERO tax forms. After accumulating 139 college credits, yet graduating with ONLY an MLT Associate, I now make $15.37/hr base pay. It's the most pay and easiest job I've ever had. And it comes with nice benefits, such as not having to clock in and out for breaks and lunches, 401K matches, fair amount of PTO, and a shift dif. I worked 8 years every Friday and Saturday evening at a grocer, and I NEVER got a shift dif for that. Once again, if you think you're worth more than a lab tech, GET OUT and find your true employer.

And for all those with a 4 year MT superiority complex, anyone with a HS education can be trained ON THE JOB to be competent in all areas of the medical lab. And that's how it used to be done. The lab techs I've encountered, regardless of their level of education, lack a fundamental knowledge across all the health sciences, especially physiology. For instance, I just asked two veteran 4 MT's the basic difference between virus and bacteria, in terms of replication and modes of causing disease. Neither one had a clue. One was even a micro specialist. Of course, virus need to enter a cell to reproduce and therefore cause disease, whereas, bacteria do NOT.

Of course, no lab director will hire me, because I don't have 20 years experience pushing buttons. I had to take the only job offer I received, 60 miles away in a rural town.

Maybe the MT program was different back then. In my MT program I had to take Anatomy, both semesters. We had a lot of chemistry classes. In my clinical chemistry class, we had extensive lectures on how all the organs work and how they relate to eachother. I did notice one of the MLT's that I work with didn't know a lot of the theory behind the tests. He just knew how to operate the instrument and knew what result he needed to get.

I would hope any Microbiologist would know the difference between a virus and a bacteria.

Of course I've talked to several "old timers" and they said they don't use half the stuff they learned in school. So I assume you start forgetting it if you don't use it often.

I have no complaints about pay. I knew what the base pay was before I got into the program, so there were no surprises there. I do hear that the Southeast region has the lowest pay. Right now I'm working 40 hrs a week without pay since I'm a student.

Molly in Pleasant View, Tennessee said: I hear reference labs and independent labs pay a lot more than Hospitals. Most likely because they want to stay competitive. Hospitals are always looking for a way to cut costs.

In my area reference labs pay the least and the large hospitals pay more. I have to reiterate what I stated earlier in this thread for the need of unions for MTs. Everywhere where there are unions for MTs, they get paid more much like how most nurses are unionized now and RNs pay has increased because of it. MTs need to begin unionizing to protect their turf and raise their pay.

MLTguyOhio in Canton, Ohio said: What is this constant whining about the presumed low pay in this field???? If you don't like it and think you're better than it, get OUT!!! For 8 long years from the age of 40 to 48, I made ZERO income and filed ZERO tax forms. After accumulating 139 college credits, yet graduating with ONLY an MLT Associate, I now make $15.37/hr base pay. It's the most pay and easiest job I've ever had. And it comes with nice benefits, such as not having to clock in and out for breaks and lunches, 401K matches, fair amount of PTO, and a shift dif. I worked 8 years every Friday and Saturday evening at a grocer, and I NEVER got a shift dif for that. Once again, if you think you're worth more than a lab tech, GET OUT and find your true employer.

And for all those with a 4 year MT superiority complex, anyone with a HS education can be trained ON THE JOB to be competent in all areas of the medical lab. And that's how it used to be done. The lab techs I've encountered, regardless of their level of education, lack a fundamental knowledge across all the health sciences, especially physiology. For instance, I just asked two veteran 4 MT's the basic difference between virus and bacteria, in terms of replication and modes of causing disease. Neither one had a clue. One was even a micro specialist. Of course, virus need to enter a cell to reproduce and therefore cause disease, whereas, bacteria do NOT.

Of course, no lab director will hire me, because I don't have 20 years experience pushing buttons. I had to take the only job offer I received, 60 miles away in a rural town.

MLTOhio, most profession are like that after you GRADUATE. I have many retail pharmacist that forgot alot of the interations, but the computer pops up "drug interaction" thats how they remember, do they deserve to make 50/hour? Give me a break, ANY job that requires REPETITION will become EASY! So don't give me the BS about Lab is easier so the money should be low.

The reason why pharmacists do not complain like MT do, is because pharmacy techs cannot get close to the salaray of pharmacist, like MLT are lowering MT income, that is the difference.
Every job becomes easy after repetition, A STANDARD DEGREE AND STANDARD LICENSE OR CERTIFICATION IS THE FACTOR THAT DICTATES HOW MUCH YOU WILL MAKE.
If they eliminate the MLT degree and only require a BS MT (ASCP) EMPLOYEERS ARE FORCED TO PAY QUALIFIED MT/CLS graduates a higher salary, hence stay in the profession.
Most retail pharmacist have to stand for 8 HOUR PER DAY. Do you see anyone getting out of the field? Hell no! They make 50/hour, they will never have a shortage and the interest in the field is greater than ever. Not because its SO MUCH MORE INTERESTING THAN LAB, its people they make BANK!

CLS48 in California said: I disagree that the knowledge base is the same. MTs have to take more in depth classes so naturally the level of knowledge is more. Just like you said, hospitals would want technologists in Blood Bank and Microbiology because it requires a certain amount of knowledge that an MLT probably doesn't have to work in these departments on their own, releasing results.

I agree that Chemistry is pretty easy. Hematology and UA I would argue takes a bit more expertise in microscopy and identifying cells and pathology in differentials and UA slides. Honestly, the most I think MLTs should operate is automated instruments in chemistry and hematology such as the cell counters and maybe the coag instruments. Other than that, they should stay way from doing differentials, microscopic UAs, microbiology, and blood bank.

Anyways, the whole point of why I made this thread is to argue that MT salary is fine at least for me. I don't care about MLTs or how they would affect me. My pay is already almost hitting 90K with my per diem job, with or without them. That's just how MTs should get paid.

I disagree. Mlt's put a lot of time into training, into knowing the body fuids. If all were qualified to do is push buttons, I would think two years of schooling would be redundent.

Brian in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania said: This article is coming from the June 2 2008 article of advance:

Readers Weigh in on MLTs and MTs in the Lab
I have written several letters to the editor about the incorrect usage of MLTs and MTs in job descriptions and articles. One of my biggest concerns is the complete disregard when it comes to expanding the acronyms used to describe MLT/CLT and MT/CLS. MLT/CLTs are technicians, not technologists.

My soap box this time though has to do with job description. According to the position description by the ASCP, an MLT's work must be supervised by an MT. See www.ascp.org/pdf . This is not happening routinely and it may be due to the shortage of MTs or that MTs haven't realized they are responsible for the work produced by an MLT.

A few MLTs may be better workers than some MTs (especially the older, seasoned MLTs) but it is not the norm with the newer generation. Students that make it through a 4-year program have the intelligence, guts and determination to succeed. From my experience, MLT graduates are immature, definitely not as educated and just not as intelligent as a bachelor graduated student.

Case in point: we just hired a new grad MLT and this technician does not know the difference between a red cell and a white cell (failed a proficiency test) and does not know how to identify WBCs in a manual differential. How did this person graduate? Frankly, I am disgusted in the MLT program that graduated this person.

This is why we need standards in the clinical lab.

I am shacking my head at this. This field is so separated I really hate I came into it. I am a MLT pursuing a Bach. when I do get to that level I will never be little a MLT because I know how hard it is, we work hard too, and even though we are not "MT" we still want recognition of the hard work we had to endure as well as MT.

Can't we all just get along? haha

Once I am done with my internship I will be making $42/ hour working swing shift at a Kaiser facility. According to my calculations, everyone needs to stop complaining and move to California!!!

Maybe I do need to move to CA, haha.

MLTguyOhio in Canton, Ohio said: What is this constant whining about the presumed low pay in this field???? If you don't like it and think you're better than it, get OUT!!! For 8 long years from the age of 40 to 48, I made ZERO income and filed ZERO tax forms. After accumulating 139 college credits, yet graduating with ONLY an MLT Associate, I now make $15.37/hr base pay. It's the most pay and easiest job I've ever had. And it comes with nice benefits, such as not having to clock in and out for breaks and lunches, 401K matches, fair amount of PTO, and a shift dif. I worked 8 years every Friday and Saturday evening at a grocer, and I NEVER got a shift dif for that. Once again, if you think you're worth more than a lab tech, GET OUT and find your true employer.

And for all those with a 4 year MT superiority complex, anyone with a HS education can be trained ON THE JOB to be competent in all areas of the medical lab. And that's how it used to be done. The lab techs I've encountered, regardless of their level of education, lack a fundamental knowledge across all the health sciences, especially physiology. For instance, I just asked two veteran 4 MT's the basic difference between virus and bacteria, in terms of replication and modes of causing disease. Neither one had a clue. One was even a micro specialist. Of course, virus need to enter a cell to reproduce and therefore cause disease, whereas, bacteria do NOT.

Of course, no lab director will hire me, because I don't have 20 years experience pushing buttons. I had to take the only job offer I received, 60 miles away in a rural town.

I would like to reply Mlt guy about all you have had to say about this field. I am not sure where you work, but most women I know in this field are thin, and obsessed with diet and exercise. Yes, this field can be a good field, depending on where you work. Give it 15 years, and lets hear you say it is an easy job. You must work at a nice lab. Come to Akron......

Getemson83 in Oakland, California said: Once I am done with my internship I will be making $42/ hour working swing shift at a Kaiser facility. According to my calculations, everyone needs to stop complaining and move to California!!!

That's just crazy to me. I don't understand how Kaiser can pay so well in this economy. I know you are probably getting a $4 differential for working pm shift but that still leaves you, as a new grad making $38. That's nonsense to me, but more power to you.

What exactly is a MT and what do they do? I've been in the medical field for 7 years and have a backgroung in med coding but nobody is hiring! So i'm thinking about changing my major. What are the req or is there a good website to get info? thanks

I don't know who mentioned NYC offering low pay for MT but I'm doing my clinicals in 2010 with 2 years left and I know of two students who are graduating this year that have gotten 2-3 job offers. Close friend of mine in the program was offered 82,000 starting salary...another was offered 70,000 with benefits included. I heard the certification licensing is merging into one real soon and I'm hoping that will be the case by the time I graduate. However, in NYC it seems the payscale for MT is actually nice and in demand, the lowest I've heard of someone being offered was around 56k and that's still a great pay for fresh grads.

As for the MLT nonsense, I seriously doubt the curriculum is anywhere close to how rigorous ours is. Do MLT's even take organic chem and A&P both semesters or Tox2/pharmacogenomics? Were put through a lot more stress during our bachelors and believe me they pump us out with loads more during clinicals which is a FULL YEAR of rotations before summer even begins...not just some 16 week training basis. If you also look at job postings, almost every employer is asking for ASCP certification and a bachelors..the trend is really changing.

This isn't the end for us MT's, a good upper hand we have against MLT's is the fact that we can use this degree to easily advance into other positions such as PA because our curriculum's are very much alike. Even Med school/pharmacy school is an option for us. Don't put your head down just work the best way you can for you out there that are not getting the respect/pay in other states.

Yes this field need standards, standard degree and standard certification. It is very simple, but once again they want to go the cheap route and hire mlt, amt, etc.

I am glad they are paying well in ny, here in fl these hospitals are so cheap they will look for any ways to cut costs, hence hiring cheap labor.

CLS48 in California said: Before this year, CA required all CLS applicants to take the CA CLS test to have a license to practice as a CLS in CA. This increased the shortage of CLSs because this test was only offered once a year. This meant you didn't even have to be ASCP or NCA certified to work here you just had to pass the CA test. Just this year they changed that. You either have to pass the ASCP or AAB test and pass a small online test about CA state law regarding labs to get your CA CLS license.

All CA jobs require that you have this state license or else they won't hire you. For this reason, the pay for CLSs is decent since there is a shortage of licensed people and too many hospitals. I am not sure how it is in other states. I assumed that each state required a state license to work whether you are ASCP or not.

I would like to know where I can find a small online test that you mentioned, please?
How would you know that ASCP cert plus this small online test can get a CLS state license? I want to make sure.

Thanks!

Rohan@stjohns in Rego Park, New York said:
As for the MLT nonsense, I seriously doubt the curriculum is anywhere close to how rigorous ours is. Do MLT's even take organic chem and A&P both semesters or Tox2/pharmacogenomics? Were put through a lot more stress during our bachelors and believe me they pump us out with loads more during clinicals which is a FULL YEAR of rotations before summer even begins...not just some 16 week training basis. If you also look at job postings, almost every employer is asking for ASCP certification and a bachelors..the trend is really changing.

So many of you arrogant people really surprise me with your ignorance. Why do you put down a program that you obviously know nothing about?

As an MLT student, here is a breakdown of the rotations that I will do:
-8 weeks of Blood Bank (200 hrs)
-7 weeks of Chemistry (160 hrs)
-8 weeks of Microbiology (200 hrs)
-7 weeks Hematology, including Urinalysis and Coag (160 hrs)
-4 weeks Phlebotomy (80 hrs)

We do our rotations 3 days a week while taking other classes. Bit more than 16 weeks, yes? And yes, I do have to take Org Chem and A&P. Your comment was misinformed and shows your ignorance.

Roughly 2/3 of the hours listed in your 124-hour Bachelor's program are Gen Ed classes. Is that what makes you so much more qualified to work in a lab? Is "HUM 2303-Music in Life" such a necessary class for the reading of a slide? How does "PHIL 1123-Contemporary Moral Problems" help you type a unit of blood?

As an MLT I am not beneath your respect. I am a fully capable lab professional that deserves more than the miserable bitterness that I see aimed at me and others like me here. I am not taking jobs away from anyone, that has been pretty well established. I am not lowering your wages, they have always been low in comparison to other medical professions. To blame me for these things is to show your ignorance.

Rus let me ask you this, if the clinical laboratory only hired BS MT (ASCP), don't you think that employers will be forced to pay well if they have to hire techs with those credentials ONLY?

Another example pharmacist are the only ones allowed to verify scripts. What happens if they created a nurse pharmacist that was only a BS degree that could do the same as a pharmacist, don't you think employers will hire the cheaper way this decreasing wages overall if they have a cheaper option?

Lots of MD are upset over the Nurse Practioner programs b/c they can be independent and they are taking money away from them and insurance loves it because the reinbursments are much less for NP.

Ansteiologist are upset with nurse anesisits saying they do not have enough training.

The only way to keep salaries high are standards. Standard degree, standard certification.
If there is any form of cheap labor, employers will take advantage of it.

When there were lab bowls with competitions in Austin, the MLT's usually won. The bowls were based on registry type questions. Since the MLT's were not rushed through the programs and would spend more time on the subjects they usually had better retention. The MT's quit the competition...go figure.

"I am not lowering your wages, they have always been low in comparison to other medical professions. To blame me for these things is to show your ignorance.", said by Russ

Sorry Rus,we use to be a lot higher than nurses pay,but the shortage of nurses has change that. Most of lab income goes to the pathologist that gets a percentage from each test a MT/MLT performs. We just have to get seperated from the pathologist. Rotations, you have only 34 weeks of rotation with only 3 days on the bench. MT has 5 days for 1 year on the bench. To get your pay up depends on the hospital and how united you are as a group. Our CEO's know that we are unhappy of being kicked to the curb. MT and MLTs alike so we are in the middle of meetings and surveys to figure out why we are so mad. You just have to let your voice heard to the basterds that are pushing the books up in the office and HR. Eventually, you will be heard. The problem is that lab personnel are quite people living in their own world called the lab and complain amongs theirselves. Nurses they strike (thats when they started to get more pay not before)and unite as a group and let their voices heard. Two years nurses make the same as BSnurses because the program was before the BS and they take the same test. For MLTs, it all depends were you are in the country. Here in Michigan there are mainly MT programs so most of us are MTs but in some states they have mainly MLTs so it is normal that the hospitals hires them otherwise they would have to close the lab.But here in Mich because of the MT programs they hire MTs over MLTs plus in most hospitals MLTs cannot read microplates and do blue card or do bloodbank at all. It all depends where you live. Nothing wrong with MLTs most of them continue anyway for their BS.

I guess it depends on the program. I'm in the MT program and I'm doing 5 days on the bench for 5 months.

The classes I took besides all the core classes were:
A&P I and II
General Chemistry I and II
Brief Organic Chemistry
Brief BioChemistry
Immunology/Serology
Parasitology
Hematology
Clinical Chemistry I and II
Clinical Microbiology I and II
Blood Bank
Laboratory Management
Phlebotomy

We had labs with all of these too, it wasn't just lecture.

I think that's it.

aaron in Alhambra, California said: I would like to know where I can find a small online test that you mentioned, please?
How would you know that ASCP cert plus this small online test can get a CLS state license? I want to make sure.

Thanks!

You can probably go to the ASCP website and it tells you the process of applying to the state of CA.

I am an MLT and an MT. I got my BS in Psychology, couldn't find work so I went back to school and got my MLT certification. The pay was so low for MLT so I went to back again and got my 4 year BS in MT. There is no comparison between the MLT program and MT. The MT program was so much harder and made the MLT program look like high school.

I've worked at a reference lab , but now I work as an MT in Micro, Coag, Blood Bank at a Level 1 trauma hospital. They have a few MLT's working in the lab , but they are now trying to hire only MT's and MLT's can't work in the Blood Bank at this hospital for some reason. The difference in pay between the MT and MLT is around $10.00 . MLT starting pay is around $10.00 and starting pay for MT is over $20.00 ,thas a big difference and thats why I got my MT.

CLS48 in California said: I've never heard of MLTs being able to release results to the floors. There always has to be an MT that checks the results and releases them. MLTs can only perform the results. PA seems to be pretty messed up in that sense.

I'm pretty sure that most of the country is like CA in that they don't allow MLTs to release results. It could be a state by state kind of thing. In CA, it's against the law for anyone other than MTs to verify and release results. An MLT can perform the results but they must always be checked by the MT before they are let go. Hence why MTs have a CA CLS license and MLTs do not.

In Georgia and Florida, MLT's can release results and they do work alone.

PooBear in Duluth, Georgia said: In Georgia and Florida, MLT's can release results and they do work alone.

It's the same in Tennessee. MLTs can also work in Blood Bank and release blood. I don't know what the pay difference is for MLTs vs. MTs here in TN.

I have heard that hospitals are starting to hire more MTs.

I worked as an MLT in the Blood Bank and now that I am an MT, I am still doing the same exact work and the only difference is,is that I am getting paid more.

PooBear in Duluth, Georgia said: I worked as an MLT in the Blood Bank and now that I am an MT, I am still doing the same exact work and the only difference is,is that I am getting paid more.

Yeah, I think that's pretty much the only difference between an MLT and a MT, at least in the SouthEast. That and the MT program is probably more difficult.

This field has no standards, that is why we have a shortage, if you have a standard degree and certification employers are forces to pay well.

RN (nclexx) = 60k
Pharmacy (naplex) = 100k
Lab (ascp,Nca,aab,Amt,no cert) = 30k

That is why this field will be a stepping stone to fields that have standards.

After reading all these comments I have to say that I'm embarrassed for almost all of you. So many are acting like dim witted children. I pray my future coworkers are nothing like the people posting on this site. You all need to stop being so damn insecure about yourselves, 4 f-ing pages of nonsense.

HI EVERYONE.

I'VE BEEN READING RELATED FORUMS FOR A WEEK NOW.
MY 2 CENTS.
EVERY MLT I KNOW HAS B.S. BIOLOGY DEGREE (I THOUGHT IT WAS THE NORM UNTIL I READ OTHERWISE HERE ON THESE FORUMS)

WHEN I WENT THRU MLT PROGRAM (CLASS OF 1999) 100% OF OUR CLASS WERE RECENT UNIVERSITY GRADS ALL HAD BIOLOGY DEGREES, MYSELF INCLUDED.

KEEP READING IT GETS BETTER.

I WORK IN THE MICROBIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
READING PLATES, AFB, O&P ETC.. JUST THE SAME AS THE OTHER TECHS.
NO ONE CHECKS OVER ME.
THEY EVEN LET ME ANSWER THE PHONE (WHAT A MLT CAN ANSWER THE PHONE OH MY)
I EVEN TEACH THE NEW HIRES (YES MT'S)
I USED TO WORK IN BLOOD BANK. I FIND IT VERY EASY TO CROSS MATCH
SEND OUT BLOOD ETC.. I DONT KNOW WHAT THE BIG FUSS IS ABOUT.
NEW TECHNOLOGY HAS MADE IT SO EASY, IM BORED! GONE ARE THE DAYS OF SHAKING TUBES!

PAY IS THE SAME. I GUESS ITS BECAUSE I COULD HAVE SAT FOR MT/ASCP
FROM THE FIRST DAY I WALKED THRU THE DOOR. I WORK FOR A PRIVATE LAB. THEY MAKE THEIR OWN RULES SO I STILL HAVEN'T TAKEN THE TEST, NOW I FIND IT USELESS TO DO SO.

WELL NOW IM 10 YEARS IN, IM LEAVING ALLIED HEALTH
FOR BIO-MEDICAL SALES! YOU GUYS CAN KEEP FIGHTING FOR HIGHER PAY IF YOU WANT TO. YOUR NOT GONNA GET IT.

LAB WORKERS WILL ALWAYS BE UNDERPAID, SO I'M LEAVING. YOU SHOULD DO THE SAME.

DEE

I confess to being a little bit frustrated with the whole MT mystique. Before starting a 2-year CLS second-bachelor's program last Fall, I'd done 9 years of molecular biology research in a medical school. I have bachelor's degrees in biology and chemistry with a whole heap of biochemistry coursework on the side. I won't say that I know everything an MT knows, but some of my fellow students get a bit irked with me in the laboratory portions of our coursework because I HAVE "been there done that" with most of the experiments and assignments. I've used automation and instrumentation (admittedly it was different instrumentation, but to me, instrumentation is instrumentation). I've followed commercial protocols. I've troubleshot experiments. I've prepared solutions. I've done a little QC. Even in the lecture coursework, I'm a little more comfortable, having at least encountered the subjects superficially in the past.

Fortunately, I'm having a whole lot of fun in these classes, and enjoy the hell out of the material (especially the stuff that is completely new to me like hematology). Still, I get a tiny bit frustrated from time to time because I think I could have just done a bit of OJT as an MT and been up to speed. To me, it's all life science, and I sometimes get a bit upset at having to spend the tuition money just so I can sit the exam and get certified. But then we have new samples for the next lab class, and I forget all about being upset.

I'm not going to get upset about the pay. The reason I left a lucrative and intellectualy rewarding job in research was because I was tired of wondering whether the next grant would get funded, and if I'd have a job. I'd rather know that I'll have a job I like today, tomorrow, and until I finally decide to retire.

DEE in Burlington, North Carolina said: HI EVERYONE.

I'VE BEEN READING RELATED FORUMS FOR A WEEK NOW.
MY 2 CENTS.
EVERY MLT I KNOW HAS B.S. BIOLOGY DEGREE (I THOUGHT IT WAS THE NORM UNTIL I READ OTHERWISE HERE ON THESE FORUMS)

WHEN I WENT THRU MLT PROGRAM (CLASS OF 1999) 100% OF OUR CLASS WERE RECENT UNIVERSITY GRADS ALL HAD BIOLOGY DEGREES, MYSELF INCLUDED.

KEEP READING IT GETS BETTER.

I WORK IN THE MICROBIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
READING PLATES, AFB, O&P ETC.. JUST THE SAME AS THE OTHER TECHS.
NO ONE CHECKS OVER ME.
THEY EVEN LET ME ANSWER THE PHONE (WHAT A MLT CAN ANSWER THE PHONE OH MY)
I EVEN TEACH THE NEW HIRES (YES MT'S)
I USED TO WORK IN BLOOD BANK. I FIND IT VERY EASY TO CROSS MATCH
SEND OUT BLOOD ETC.. I DONT KNOW WHAT THE BIG FUSS IS ABOUT.
NEW TECHNOLOGY HAS MADE IT SO EASY, IM BORED! GONE ARE THE DAYS OF SHAKING TUBES!

PAY IS THE SAME. I GUESS ITS BECAUSE I COULD HAVE SAT FOR MT/ASCP
FROM THE FIRST DAY I WALKED THRU THE DOOR. I WORK FOR A PRIVATE LAB. THEY MAKE THEIR OWN RULES SO I STILL HAVEN'T TAKEN THE TEST, NOW I FIND IT USELESS TO DO SO.

WELL NOW IM 10 YEARS IN, IM LEAVING ALLIED HEALTH
FOR BIO-MEDICAL SALES! YOU GUYS CAN KEEP FIGHTING FOR HIGHER PAY IF YOU WANT TO. YOUR NOT GONNA GET IT.

LAB WORKERS WILL ALWAYS BE UNDERPAID, SO I'M LEAVING. YOU SHOULD DO THE SAME.

DEE

Why are you screaming.