Do you also enjoy highly detailed work that requires organization and accuracy? Becoming a medical laboratory assistant could be the right fit for you. This career is ideal for people who want a challenging job in healthcare, without spending years at university.
Lab assistants are typically only required to hold a minimum of a high school diploma or GED. However, an associate's or bachelor's degree in a science field like chemistry, biology or biotechnology can make you more appealing to employers.
The average Medical Laboratory Assistant salary in Canada is $45,214 per year or $23.19 per hour. Entry level positions start at $23,241 per year while most experienced workers make up to $55,263 per year.
Medical lab assistants are responsible for collecting and receiving blood, tissue, and other samples from patients, logging and prepping, performing routine tests, and setting up, cleaning, and sterilizing the lab and its equipment. This job is not for someone who doesn't do well with blood.
A typical full-time annual
salary for this occupation is in the region of $45,000 – $65,000.
Average Hourly (Median) Wages for Medical Laboratory Technicians in Canada.
| Location | Toronto – Ontario |
|---|
| Low Wage $ per hr | 14.00 |
|---|
| Average Wage $ per hr | 23.00 |
|---|
| High Wage $ per hr | 40.05 |
|---|
| Year | 2018 |
|---|
Medical Laboratory Technologist Salaries
| Job Title | Salary |
|---|
| Quest Diagnostics Medical Laboratory Technologist salaries - 19 salaries reported | $27/hr |
| Adirondack Health Medical Laboratory Technologist salaries - 12 salaries reported | $32/hr |
| Labcorp Medical Laboratory Technologist salaries - 10 salaries reported | $22/hr |
Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician Program Admission Requirements
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma or the equivalent, or if 18 years of age or over, you may apply as a mature student and write an entrance exam.
- Ontario grade 12 English or equivalent.
The average Mri Technologist salary in Canada is $71,497 per year or $36.67 per hour. Entry level positions start at $42,939 per year while most experienced workers make up to $93,113 per year.
Overall employment of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians is projected to grow 7 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations.
Lab technicians need at minimum a high school diploma or equivalent to work. Most companies prefer at least an Associate's Degree in Laboratory Science or related major. It can be helpful to earn a degree from an institution accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
Admission Requirements
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older)
- English Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent (minimum grade required) or take the Centennial College English Skills Assessment for Admission (score of 170 or 171 is required for admission)
A Lab Technician in your area makes on average $18 per hour, or $0.42 (2%) more than the national average hourly salary of $17.65. ranks number 1 out of 50 states nationwide for Lab Technician salaries.
Median salary: $52,160
- Computer Systems Administrator.
- Computer Programmer.
- Database Administrator.
- Computer Systems Analyst.
- Information Security Analyst. Median salary: $92,600.
- Software Developer. Median salary: $102,280.
- Computer Network Architect. Median salary: $101,210.
- IT Manager. Median salary: $135,800.
As of 2019, the national average annual salary for radiologic technologists was $63,120. The highest-earning 10% made over $89,760, while the lowest-earning made $41,480 or less.
The most common route to a laboratory technician's career is through a two-year associate degree program or a one-year certificate program for candidates who already hold a degree in a related health-care field such as nursing. However, it is possible to earn certification as a technician without completing a degree.
Medical lab technicians perform many duties in their jobs. Those who specialize in blood lab work may also draw blood from patients for testing. Some larger labs and clinics employ phlebotomists who specialize in this task, while others rely on medical laboratory technicians and technologists to do so.
Here are five tips for success.
- Be Knowledgeable. Your work as a lab technician requires you to be knowledgeable.
- Acquire Technological Skills. Performing tests as a laboratory technician requires proficiency in the use of technology.
- Practice Good Organization.
- Learn to Communicate Well.
- Be Flexible.
Your knowledge and expertise in biology will be useful in a career as a laboratory technician, such as one who works in a medical or microbiology lab. After you graduate with your degree, enroll in a laboratory technology postgraduate program.
