Working as a Medical Laboratory Technologist and Technician

There is currently a shortage of medical laboratory technologists and technicians in B.C.  There is an increased demand for general medical laboratory technologists. You may be in particularly high demand if you are willing to move to rural and remote communities in BC.

You may find new job opportunities in hospitals and medical laboratories that provide contracted diagnostic services. New job creation for clinical genetics technologists is also expected as a result of the growth of molecular testing.

Source: Work BC Career Profiles

Medical Laboratory Technologists

Chart from WorkBC

Medical Laboratory Technicians

Chart from WorkBC

WorkBC provides job openings in BC regions from 2021-2031:

You can learn more about working in BC from the following sources:

Medical laboratory technologists and technicians work in many settings including:

• Hospitals
• Medical laboratories & clinics
• Canadian Blood Services
• Research institutes
• Universities and government research laboratories

The median annual salary for medical laboratory technologists working full-time in BC is $73,476.

In BC’s regions, you can expect to make:

Chart from Job Bank Canada

The median annual salary for medical laboratory technicians is $50,054.

In BC’s regions, you can expect to make:

Chart from Job Bank Canada

In addition to a salary, most full-time medical laboratory technologists and technicians receive benefits, such as paid sick days, vacation time, and dental coverage.

Medical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians work 35 – 40 hours per week. Your working hours vary depending on the type of laboratory. You may work rotating shifts of days, evenings and nights, including weekends and holidays.

Source: WorkBC Careers Profiles