Medical Laboratory Technician Jobs in San Diego, CA
Licensed medical laboratory technicians in San Diego see posted pay from about $33 an hour at Scripps to about $62 at the top of Sharp's scale, and labs from Sorrento Mesa to Kearny Mesa staff evening and night shifts. Here are the current openings, then who is hiring and how to get licensed.
Current medical laboratory technician Openings in San Diego, CA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Medical Laboratory Technician Work in San Diego
Most MLT postings in San Diego come from the big health systems' hospital and reference labs. Scripps runs its Core Lab in Sorrento Mesa off I-805 and staffs MLTs at Scripps Encinitas on the I-5 corridor. Sharp Laboratory Services works out of its Copley Drive lab, Rady Children's keeps its own lab on the Kearny Mesa medical campus along SR-163, and Kaiser Permanente runs testing at Zion Medical Center in Grantville off I-8.
What sets California apart is the license. MLTs here are licensed by the state health department, so every hospital posting in the county asks for a California MLT license, not just national certification. Posted MLT pay runs well above the region's entry-level healthcare wages.
Top San Diego Employers Hiring Medical Laboratory Technicians
These San Diego employers post MLT openings on their own careers sites:
- Scripps Health - hires MLTs for its Core Lab in Sorrento Mesa and for evening shifts at Scripps Encinitas Hospital.
- Sharp HealthCare - Sharp Laboratory Services posts licensed med lab tech roles, including per diem variable shifts, at its Copley Drive lab.
- Rady Children's Health - the pediatric hospital in Kearny Mesa hires MLT I staff for its main lab, microbiology and point-of-care testing under a union contract.
- Kaiser Permanente - posts per diem evening MLT shifts at Zion Medical Center, with coverage at other San Diego sites.
Medical Laboratory Technician Salaries in San Diego
- Entry level: about $34 to $39 per hour for newly licensed MLTs.
- Experienced: roughly $40 to $50 per hour with a few years at the bench.
- Senior / top of scale: $50 to $62 per hour at the top of hospital pay ranges.
These are estimates drawn from ranges San Diego employers posted in 2025 and 2026. Scripps lists $33.39 to $48.28, Rady Children's $38.40 to $53.43 under its bargaining agreement, and Sharp $39.24 to $62.02. Evening and night shifts, per diem status, and years of licensed experience move you within those ranges.
How to Become a Medical Laboratory Technician in San Diego
California requires a Medical Laboratory Technician license from the California Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services. You need an associate degree or 60 units that include 36 in physical or biological science, 6 in chemistry and 6 in biology. You also need clinical training, such as an accredited MLT program, and a passing score on the ASCP or AAB certification exam plus the state's online California laws quiz. The license renews every two years with continuing education. Locally, Southwestern College runs a NAACLS-accredited, roughly 18-month MLT program at its Higher Education Center at National City, and San Diego Miramar College runs a state-approved Medical Laboratory Technology Training program on Black Mountain Road in Mira Mesa. Southwestern expects applicants to already hold a California phlebotomy certificate and an MLT Trainee license.
What the Job Involves
MLTs run the tests doctors order on blood, urine and other samples. A shift means loading and calibrating chemistry and hematology analyzers, running quality control, preparing specimens, performing routine tests, flagging critical values to nurses and physicians, and documenting every result in the lab information system. Hospital labs never close, so evening, night and weekend rotations are part of the job.
Skills Employers Look For
- Active California MLT license
- Experience with automated chemistry and hematology analyzers
- Quality control and calibration routines
- Careful specimen handling and labeling
- Lab information system and Epic familiarity
- Willingness to work evenings, nights and weekends
Career Path and Advancement
Many San Diego MLTs start as phlebotomists or lab assistants, finish the Southwestern or Miramar program, and move to the bench at a Scripps, Sharp or Rady lab. From there, the next step is usually the separate Clinical Lab Scientist license, which hospitals here post as its own job title, followed by lead tech and lab supervisor roles.
Related Careers in San Diego
If lab work interests you, these San Diego healthcare roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to work as an MLT in San Diego?
Yes. California requires a Medical Laboratory Technician license from the California Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services. National ASCP or AAB certification is part of qualifying, but on its own it does not let you work as an MLT in a California lab.
How much do medical laboratory technicians make in San Diego?
Posted hospital ranges run from about $33 an hour at the low end of Scripps' scale to about $62 at the top of Sharp's. Most newly licensed MLTs start in the mid to high $30s an hour.
How long does it take to become an MLT in San Diego?
Southwestern College's MLT program runs about 18 months after prerequisites, and you need an associate degree or 60 qualifying units. Plan on roughly two to three years from the start of college science courses to a California license.
What is the difference between an MLT and a Clinical Lab Scientist?
Both are California lab licenses issued by Laboratory Field Services, but the Clinical Lab Scientist license is a separate, higher-level license. San Diego hospitals post CLS and MLT jobs as different titles, and many MLTs later study for the CLS license to move up.
Do I need a phlebotomy certificate to become an MLT?
The state MLT license does not list one, but Southwestern College requires a California Certified Phlebotomy Technician I or II certificate to apply to its MLT program. Many local MLTs start out drawing blood, which also builds lab experience.
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