SalaryByCity

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians vs Data Scientists: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

$61,890

Median annual salary

343,040 employed nationally

Data Scientists

$112,590

Median annual salary

233,440 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Data Scientists professionals earn $50,700 more per year than Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians professionals — that's 81.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians earns $97,990 compared to $194,410 for Data Scientists.

Salary Range Comparison

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$38,020 – $97,990
Data Scientists$63,650 – $194,410
$38,020$194,410

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileClinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansData ScientistsDifference
10th Percentile$38,020$63,650$-25,630
25th Percentile$46,580$82,630$-36,050
Median (50th)$61,890$112,590$-50,700
75th Percentile$80,010$155,810$-75,800
90th Percentile$97,990$194,410$-96,420
Mean (Average)$65,320$124,590$-59,270

Employment Numbers

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

343,040

employed nationwide

Data Scientists

233,440

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$81,900
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$81,390
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$80,580
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$80,160
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$78,850

Best Cities for Data Scientists

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$173,160
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$166,300
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$157,290
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$135,190
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$131,830

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians or Data Scientists?
Data Scientists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $50,700 (81.9% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians?
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians salaries range from $38,020 (10th percentile) to $97,990 (90th percentile), with a median of $61,890.
What is the salary range for Data Scientists?
Data Scientists salaries range from $63,650 (10th percentile) to $194,410 (90th percentile), with a median of $112,590.
How many Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians and Data Scientists jobs are there?
There are approximately 343,040 Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians positions and 233,440 Data Scientists positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Data Scientists to Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians has a median salary of $61,890 while Data Scientists earns $112,590. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS