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Careersβ€ΊRolesβ€ΊCatheterization Laboratory Technician (Catheterization Lab Tech)
Mid-Level

Catheterization Laboratory Technician (Catheterization Lab Tech)

Supporting the cath lab team, you prep patients and equipment, hand off supplies, and keep heart-catheterization procedures running smoothly and sterile. The hands-on support that keeps a high-stakes room moving.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
R
I
C
S
A
E
Realistichands-on, practical
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Based on Holland Code framework
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Catheterization Laboratory Technician (Catheterization Lab Tech)

Most of the work is preparation and assistance: setting up the sterile field, prepping patients, managing supplies, and supporting the team during the procedure. You work in a fast, high-stakes environment, and anticipating the next need is half the job. The pace is often back-to-back, and sterile technique can never slip, since infection risk is genuinely real.

What's taxing is the intensity and the unpredictability: a routine case can become an emergency, and you have to keep up. Shift and on-call work come with cardiac coverage, and the physical demands of long procedures add up. Settings range from small hospitals to high-volume cardiac centers, each with its own rhythm and demands to keep pace with.

It fits someone organized, steady, and good at anticipating under pressure. If you want a calm, predictable setting, the high-stakes pace may not suit. But if you like being the reliable support that lets a critical procedure go smoothly, and the energy of a fast clinical team, the work tends to suit, and can open toward technologist training.

What people in this role value
SupportAbove avg
RelationshipsModerate
IndependenceLower
Working ConditionsLower
AchievementLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial β€” written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape β€” and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Professional Services$77K+1%
Energy & Utilities$77K+0%
Technology & Information$74K-4%
Financial Services$70K-9%
Healthcare$70K-9%
Compared to Healthcare average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Catheterization Laboratory Technician (Catheterization Lab Tech)s (SOC 29-2012.00), not just this title Β· BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Healthcare β†’
Catheterization Laboratory Technician (Catheterization Lab Tech)Laboratory AssistantLaboratory TechnicianBiological Science Laboratory Technician (Biological Science Lab Tech)Artificial Breeding Laboratory Technician (Artificial Breeding Lab Tech)HistotechnicianHistologic AideMedical Numerical Control OperatorBlood TyperBlood Bank Laboratory TechnicianLaboratory Technician (Lab Tech)Medical Lab AssistantMicrobiology TechnicianLaboratory Assistant (Lab Assistant)Clinical Research Assistant
Exploring the Catheterization Laboratory Technician (Catheterization Lab Tech) career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit β€” and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial β€” career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape β€” helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$38K–$98K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
686K
U.S. Employment

How this category is changing

$74K$71K$68K$65K$62K201920202021202220232024$62K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 Β· BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Active ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingScienceInstructingTime ManagementWritingQuality Control AnalysisComplex Problem Solving
O*NET OnLine Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
29-2012.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midLaboratory Assistant$53KmidLaboratory Technician$45KmidBiological Science Laboratory Technician (Biological Science Lab Tech)$52KmidArtificial Breeding Laboratory Technician (Artificial Breeding Lab Tech)$52KmidHistotechnician$62KmidHistologic Aide$62K
View all Healthcare roles β†’

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) Β· BLS Employment Projections Β· O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.