Med Lab Scientist Salary

Salem vs Wilsonville: Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist Salary (2026)

Compare medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries between Salem, OR and Wilsonville, OR. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Salem, OR
$85,892
$41.30/hr
Wilsonville, OR
$86,972
$41.81/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSalem, ORWilsonville, OR
Median Salary$85,892$86,972
Hourly Rate$41.30$41.81
Entry Level (P10)$56,086$57,395
25th Percentile$63,698$65,987
75th Percentile$107,311$111,324
Top Earner (P90)$126,152$134,806
Total Employed2705
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Salem ($85,892) and Wilsonville ($86,972) medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries.SalemWilsonvilleMedian Salary$85,892$86,972Entry Level (P10)$56,086$57,395Top Earner (P90)$126,152$134,806US Median $68,734

Verdict

Wilsonville, OR offers better overall compensation for medical and clinical laboratory technologists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Salem.

The salary gap between Salem and Wilsonville is $1,080 (1.26%). Wilsonville's median is +26.53% compared to the US national median of $68,734.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Salem spans $70,066,Wilsonville spans $77,411. Wilsonville has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced medical and clinical laboratory technologists.

Salem
P10 (Entry)$56,086
P25$63,698
Median$85,892
P75$107,311
P90 (Top)$126,152
Wilsonville
P10 (Entry)$57,395
P25$65,987
Median$86,972
P75$111,324
P90 (Top)$134,806

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Wilsonville ($84,768 effective) pays 2.29% more than Salem ($82,868 effective).

Salem
Nominal: $85,892
CoL Index: 103.649
Adjusted: $82,868
Wilsonville
Nominal: $86,972
CoL Index: 102.6
Adjusted: $84,768

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Salem if…

  • Larger job market (270 employed)
  • You prefer the Oregon area and lifestyle

Choose Wilsonville if…

  • Higher median salary ($86,972/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($134,806)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $84,768)
  • You prefer the Oregon area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries in Salem grew 72.7% from 2019 to 2025, compared to -0.3% growth in Wilsonville over the same period.

Salem, OR

+72.7%

$48,280 (2019) → $83,358 (2025)

Wilsonville, OR

+-0.3%

$84,641 (2024) → $84,406 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays medical and clinical laboratory technologists more: Salem or Wilsonville?

Wilsonville has a higher median medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary at $86,972/year, compared to Salem at $85,892/year — a difference of $1,080 (1.26%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Salem and Wilsonville?

Salem medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn $41.30/hr while Wilsonville hygienists earn $41.81/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Salem to Wilsonville as a medical and clinical laboratory technologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Salem and Wilsonville. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Salem = $82,868, Wilsonville = $84,768), job availability (270 vs 5 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn in Salem vs Wilsonville?

Entry-level (10th percentile) medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn $56,086 in Salem and $57,395 in Wilsonville. The Wilsonville area offers higher starting salaries.
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Written by Alexandra Choi, MS, MT(ASCP)

Career Analyst

Alexandra has 10 years of experience in clinical laboratory science. She specializes in molecular diagnostics. She works at a large metropolitan hospital.

Clinically reviewed by Jerome Patel, BS, MT(ASCP)Data verified by Fatima Hussain, MS, CLS

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.04% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Alexandra Choi, MS, MT(ASCP), a licensed medical and clinical laboratory technologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov