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Medical laboratory assistant

Also called medical lab assistant, clinical research assistant, assistant clinical researcher

Medical laboratory assistants work under supervision of the biomedical scientist and carry out basic laboratory procedures. They work in the pre-analytical handling of samples such as checking the details of specimens received for analysis, maintaining analysers, loading reagents, and packaging specimens. They also perform clerical tasks such as monitoring the stock levels of reagents used in analysis.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects41 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Health associate professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,500 (Bulgaria) to €8,200 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Health associate professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree4 in 10 have a degree. 1 in 10 train through vocational routes.Health associate professionalsWill AI change it?LittleLevel 2 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Medical and pathology laboratory technicians · ILO

What you'd do

Medical and pathology laboratory technicians · ILO
  • Conducting chemical analysis of body fluids, including blood, urine and spinal fluid, to determine presence of normal and abnormal components
  • Operating, calibrating and maintaining equipment used in quantitative and qualitative analysis, such as spectrophotometers, calorimeters, flame photometers and computer-controlled analysers
  • Entering data from analysis of laboratory tests and clinical results into records-keeping systems and reporting results to medical practitioners and other health professionals
  • Analysing samples of biological material for chemical content or reaction
  • Setting up, cleaning and maintaining laboratory equipment
  • Analysing laboratory findings to check the accuracy of the results
  • Establishing and monitoring programmes to ensure the accuracy of laboratory results and developing, standardizing, evaluating, and modifying procedures, techniques and tests used in the analysis of specimens
  • Obtaining specimens, cultivating, isolating and identifying microorganisms for analysis
  • Examining cells stained with dye to locate abnormalities
  • Inoculating fertilized eggs, broths or other bacteriological media with organisms
Communicate in healthcareConduct routine blood testingArchive healthcare users' recordsIdentify patients' medical recordsCheck the received biological samples+ 19 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually under 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Very repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as health associate professionals in the EU
6.04m6.64m7.71m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
921,000 new jobs 1,847,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Health associate professionals41
All jobs29
Right now
7 of 27 countries report a shortage of medical and pathology laboratory technicians, 2 a surplus.
Medical and pathology laboratory technicians · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,500 a month (Bulgaria) to €8,200 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree in biology is the usual route.

Highest qualification of health associate professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 37%Vocational 49%General secondary 6%Basic schooling 8%
Field that teaches it
Biology
Vocational route, EU
1 in 10 trainees in this field
Science and maths graduates in a matching job
63% in the EU

697 institutions in the EU offer science and maths bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.31 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 10 tasks
Entering data from analysis of laboratory tests and clinical results into records-keeping systems and reporting results to medical practitioners and other health professionals0.65
Analysing laboratory findings to check the accuracy of the results0.47
Establishing and monitoring programmes to ensure the accuracy of laboratory results and developing, standardizing, evaluating, and modifying procedures, techniques and tests used in the analysis of specimens0.41
Analysing samples of biological material for chemical content or reaction0.32
Obtaining specimens, cultivating, isolating and identifying microorganisms for analysis0.29
Operating, calibrating and maintaining equipment used in quantitative and qualitative analysis, such as spectrophotometers, calorimeters, flame photometers and computer-controlled analysers0.25
Conducting chemical analysis of body fluids, including blood, urine and spinal fluid, to determine presence of normal and abnormal components0.24
Examining cells stained with dye to locate abnormalities0.17
Inoculating fertilized eggs, broths or other bacteriological media with organisms0.16
Setting up, cleaning and maintaining laboratory equipment0.12

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for medical and pathology laboratory technicians. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).