truest.me
Explore CareersSponsor Someone 🎁Log InSign Up
truest.me
AboutCareer Growth ToolsWays to access truestPricingSponsor people/teamsWho is truest for
Terms of useContactPrivacy policytruest is a public benefit company
Copyright © 2026, Truest.me. All rights reserved.
Browse Careers
Career Explorer →
Tracks
See all →
Admin & OfficeAgricultureArts & MediaBusiness OperationsConstructionEducationEngineeringExecutive LeadershipFacilitiesFinanceFood ServiceHealthcareHuman ResourcesLegalMaintenance & RepairMarketingOperationsPersonal CareProductionProtective ServicesReal EstateSalesScienceSocial ServicesTechnologyTransportation
Top industries
See all →
HealthcareAdministrative ServicesK-12 SchoolsHospitality & Food ServiceHospital SystemsRetailWholesale & DistributionCatering & Mobile Food ServicesProfessional ServicesHospitals & Medical CentersEducationRestaurants & DiningGovernmentManufacturingAmbulatory Healthcare ServicesAdministrative Support ServicesConstructionFinancial ServicesGeneral Merchandise StoresColleges & UniversitiesConsumer ServicesLocal Government ServicesFull-Service RestaurantsSpecialty Trade ContractorsTransportation & LogisticsReal Estate Services
Top metros
See all →
New York-NewarkLos Angeles-Long BeachChicago-NapervilleDallas-Fort WorthHouston-PasadenaWashington-ArlingtonAtlanta-Sandy SpringsPhiladelphia-CamdenMiami-Fort LauderdaleBoston-CambridgeSan Francisco-OaklandPhoenix-MesaSeattle-TacomaMinneapolis-St. PaulDetroit-WarrenRiverside-San BernardinoDenver-AuroraSan Diego-Chula VistaTampa-St. PetersburgOrlando-KissimmeeCharlotte-ConcordBaltimore-ColumbiaSt. LouisAustin-Round RockPortland-VancouverSan Jose-Sunnyvale
Careers›Roles›Central Laboratory Technician (CLT)
Mid-Level

Central Laboratory Technician (CLT)

In a central lab that processes specimens at scale, you run the tests and instruments behind results clinicians and researchers rely on. High-volume precision where a mislabeled tube matters.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
R
C
I
E
S
A
Realistichands-on, practical
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Central Laboratory Technician (CLT)s
Administrative ServicesHospitality & Food ServiceManufacturing · 77%Professional Services · 8%Wholesale & Distribution · 5%Education · 5%
Job markets for Central Laboratory Technician (CLT)s
Employment concentration · ~72 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Science
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Central Laboratory Technician (CLT)

The work means preparing samples, running analyzers, and recording results against strict protocols, often at a steady, high-throughput pace. Accuracy and traceability are the whole point, and a single error can ripple into someone's diagnosis. Quality checks and documentation run constantly.

What's underappreciated is how much focus relentless accuracy demands: the work is repetitive yet unforgiving. Shift work is common, the pace can pressure you, and automation keeps reshaping the role. Settings range from hospital labs to large reference and research facilities.

Meticulous, steady, and content with exacting routine: that's who fits. If you want variety or patient contact, the bench can feel narrow. But if there's satisfaction in clean, reliable results others build on, the work tends to suit, and it can open further training.

What people in this role value
SupportHigh
RelationshipsModerate
AchievementModerate
IndependenceModerate
Working ConditionsLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — 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$92K+15%
Technology & Information$91K+13%
Energy & Utilities$82K+2%
Financial Services$81K+2%
Wholesale & Distribution$79K-1%
Compared to Science average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Central Laboratory Technician (CLT)s (SOC 19-4013.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Science →
Central Laboratory Technician (CLT)Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst)Quality AnalystResearch Technician (Research Tech)Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech)Seed AnalystLaboratory Assistant (Lab Assistant)Food TasterDairy Laboratory Technician (Dairy Lab Tech)Food AnalystCheese TesterButter Fat TesterFood Products TesterData Control AssistantYeast Culture DeveloperFlavor Technician (Flavor Tech)
Exploring the Central Laboratory Technician (CLT) career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
✦ Editorial — 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 — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$38K–$75K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
14K
U.S. Employment
+4.8%
10yr Growth
3K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$77K$74K$71K$68K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$77K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingSpeakingScienceCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingQuality Control AnalysisCoordinationMonitoring
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
19-4013.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midQuality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst)$72KmidQuality Analyst$71KseniorSenior Quality Analyst$71KmidResearch Technician (Research Tech)$69KmidLaboratory Technician (Lab Tech)$56KmidSeed Analyst$49K
View all Science roles →

Navigate your career with clarity

Truest gives you tools to understand your strengths, explore roles that fit, and plan your next move.

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