Medical Laboratory Technician Jobs in Tampa, FL
Medical laboratory technicians in Tampa run the hematology, chemistry and microbiology benches behind hospital and clinic care, and posted hospital ranges reach about $40 an hour. Quest Diagnostics' lab on East Fowler Avenue anchors the market. Here are the current openings, then who is hiring and how to get licensed.
Current medical laboratory technician Openings in Tampa, FL
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Medical Laboratory Technician Work in Tampa
Most of Tampa's lab work sits in North Tampa, in the medical cluster around USF. Quest Diagnostics runs its lab at 4225 E. Fowler Avenue, AdventHealth Tampa's hospital lab is just north on Fletcher Avenue, and Moffitt Cancer Center and the James A. Haley VA on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard are close by. Across town on Davis Islands, Tampa General Hospital's lab handles hundreds of thousands of patient tests a year for the area's only Level I trauma center, with molecular testing, automated chemistry and transfusion medicine under one roof.
BayCare adds a network of its own: BayCare Laboratories runs 25 patient service centers and specialized labs inside nine hospitals around the bay. The other local difference is the license. Florida licenses clinical laboratory staff, so a Tampa lab cannot put you on a bench until the Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel has cleared you, a step many states skip.
Top Tampa Employers Hiring Medical Laboratory Technicians
These Tampa employers have posted lab technician and lab scientist roles or name them on their own careers pages:
- Quest Diagnostics - the reference lab on East Fowler Avenue hires Medical Laboratory Technician I staff in hematology, along with lab scientists and histotechnologists.
- AdventHealth - AdventHealth Tampa on Fletcher Avenue posts Medical Laboratory Technician II roles that ask for CLT or MLS certification and two years at the bench.
- Tampa General Hospital - the Davis Islands teaching hospital's CAP-accredited lab hires medical laboratory scientists and lab assistants across hematology, microbiology and molecular diagnostics.
- BayCare - BayCare Laboratories hires clinical laboratory scientists for its hospital labs and patient service centers across Tampa Bay.
Medical Laboratory Technician Salaries in Tampa
- Entry level: about $20 to $24 an hour for newly licensed technicians.
- Experienced: roughly $25 to $32 an hour with a few years on the bench.
- Senior and specialty: $33 to $40 or more an hour for leads and blood bank, microbiology or molecular specialists.
These are estimates. Federal wage data for May 2025 put the Tampa-area median for lab technologists and technicians at about $30 an hour, and AdventHealth Tampa posts its Medical Laboratory Technician II range at $21.77 to $40.48. Pay moves with your Florida license level, national certification, night and weekend shifts, and the department you work in.
How to Become a Medical Laboratory Technician in Tampa
Most Tampa employers want an associate degree in medical laboratory technology or a laboratory science, and many ask for national certification such as ASCP's MLT or MLS credential. You also need a Florida license from the Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel, part of the Florida Department of Health. A 2026 law, HB 1347, adopted the federal CLIA personnel qualifications as the minimum for technician and technologist licenses starting July 1, 2026. Applicants complete Livescan fingerprinting and pay $55 in fees. Locally, Hillsborough College offers a Medical Laboratory Science AS at its Dale Mabry Campus that builds on a medical laboratory technician diploma, and Tampa General runs a School of Medical Laboratory Science with USF Health Morsani College of Medicine for the technologist track.
What the Job Involves
Medical laboratory technicians test blood, urine and tissue samples that doctors use to diagnose and treat patients. A typical shift means loading and running automated analyzers, performing quality control, reviewing results and flagging critical values, preparing slides, and logging everything in the laboratory information system. In a hospital lab the work runs around the clock, with stat orders from the emergency department and operating rooms taking priority.
Skills Employers Look For
- A current Florida clinical laboratory license
- ASCP or AMT certification
- Experience with hematology and chemistry analyzers
- Quality control and calibration habits
- Attention to detail and accurate specimen handling
- Comfort with a laboratory information system
- Willingness to work nights, weekends and holidays
Career Path and Advancement
Many Tampa lab workers start as lab assistants or phlebotomists, finish an associate degree, and move onto the bench as licensed technicians. From there, a bachelor's degree and a technologist license open medical laboratory scientist roles at Tampa General, AdventHealth and BayCare, followed by specialty benches such as blood bank or molecular testing, lead technologist and lab supervisor jobs. Quest's Fowler Avenue lab also hires for histology and lab operations.
Related Careers in Tampa
If lab work interests you, these related Tampa healthcare roles are worth a look:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to work as a medical lab technician in Tampa?
Yes. Florida licenses clinical laboratory personnel through the Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel, part of the Florida Department of Health. You apply through the department's online portal, complete Livescan fingerprinting and pay $55 in fees, and since July 1, 2026 the minimum qualifications follow the federal CLIA rules.
How much do medical lab technicians make in Tampa?
Newly licensed technicians generally start around $20 to $24 an hour, and experienced technicians earn roughly $25 to $32. Senior and specialty staff can pass $40 an hour, and AdventHealth Tampa posts a Medical Laboratory Technician II range of $21.77 to $40.48.
What is the difference between a technician and a medical laboratory scientist?
Technicians usually hold an associate degree and a Florida technician license, while medical laboratory scientists, also called technologists, usually hold a bachelor's degree and a technologist license. Scientists can take on more complex testing and are the usual path to lead and supervisor jobs at Tampa hospital labs.
Where can I train for lab work in Tampa?
Hillsborough College offers a Medical Laboratory Science AS at its Dale Mabry Campus near Raymond James Stadium for students who have finished a medical laboratory technician diploma. Tampa General Hospital and USF Health Morsani College of Medicine run a NAACLS-accredited School of Medical Laboratory Science for the technologist route.
Do Tampa labs hire for night shifts?
Yes. Hospital labs at Tampa General, AdventHealth and BayCare run 24 hours a day, so evening, night and weekend shifts are common and are often where new technicians get their start.
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