Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician Salary in Washington, DC

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $70,300 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $55,163 take-home, or $4,597 a month.

Median salary
$70,300
$33.80 per hour
Typical range
$43,460 – $104,290
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Washington, DC
5,680
0.85× national concentration
▼1.4%
Pay trend: The median for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in Washington, DC fell from $71,280 (May 2024) to $70,300 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 3.8%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median clinical laboratory technologist and technician salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician in Washington, DC
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$55,163
per year · effective tax rate 21.5%
$4,597Monthly
$2,298Twice a month
$2,122Every 2 weeks
$26.52Hourly
  • Federal income tax$6,636
  • Social Security (6.2%)$4,359
  • Medicare (1.45%)$1,019
  • District of Columbia income tax$3,123
  • Take-home pay$55,163

Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.50% state

The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician pay by experience in Washington, DC

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$43,460$20.89$35,659$2,972
25th percentile$49,920$24.00$40,462$3,372
Median (50th)$70,300$33.80$55,163$4,597
75th percentile$92,900$44.66$69,257$5,771
90th percentile (top earners)$104,290$50.14$76,302$6,358

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $70,300 buys in Washington, DC

Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median clinical laboratory technologist and technician's $55,163 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,662 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,990
43% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$2,223
48% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$2,607
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician jobs are about as common in Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).

Best-paying cities for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, adjusted for cost of living

Washington, DC ranks #17 of 32 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1New York, NY $96,930$72,342$64,268
2Cleveland, OH $66,360$54,458$57,981
3Seattle, WA $78,170$63,823$57,429
4Nashville, TN $65,060$54,456$56,526
5Boston, MA $79,480$60,990$56,334
6Cincinnati, OH $65,370$53,689$56,296
7Chicago, IL $73,960$57,345$55,355
8San Francisco, CA $84,130$63,327$54,775
17Washington, DC$70,300$55,163$50,662

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 32 metros →

About the job: clinical laboratory technologists and technicians

Typical education
Bachelor's degree
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
None
Job outlook, 2025–35
+2.7% (about average)

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a clinical laboratory technologist and technician make in Washington, DC?

The median clinical laboratory technologist and technician salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $70,300 a year, or about $33.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,920 and $92,900.

What is a clinical laboratory technologist and technician’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?

On the median $70,300 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $55,163 a year ($4,597 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,123 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.

Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a clinical laboratory technologist and technician?

Pay here is 12% above the national median of $62,930. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,662 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #17 of 32 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a clinical laboratory technologist and technician afford rent in Washington, DC?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median clinical laboratory technologist and technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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