Medical Laboratory Technician Jobs in Tulsa, OK
Medical laboratory technicians in Tulsa run the blood, chemistry and microbiology tests behind diagnoses at Saint Francis, Hillcrest and Ascension St. John, with metro lab pay centered near $26 an hour. Here are the current openings, then who hires, what it pays and how to train.
Current medical laboratory technician Openings in Tulsa, OK
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Medical Laboratory Technician Work in Tulsa
Most Tulsa MLT jobs are in hospital labs that never close. Saint Francis Hospital on Yale Avenue at 61st Street runs a lab staffed around the clock plus outpatient lab service centers across eastern Oklahoma. Hillcrest staffs labs at Hillcrest Medical Center on South Utica and at Hillcrest Hospital South in far south Tulsa, and Ascension St. John's lab arm, Regional Medical Laboratory, hires for sites that include its Sapulpa hospital lab.
Because hospital labs run 24/7, evening and night shifts are common. Tulsa postings frequently list MLT and medical laboratory scientist roles together, so an associate-level MLT can compete for many of the same benches as a four-year scientist, with pay set by degree and certification.
Top Tulsa Employers for Medical Laboratory Technicians
These Tulsa employers hire medical laboratory technicians and lab scientists:
- Saint Francis Health System - its lab careers page names medical laboratory technicians, medical technologists, phlebotomists and histologists for a 24/7 hospital lab and outpatient service centers.
- Hillcrest HealthCare System - hires MLTs and lab scientists for Hillcrest Medical Center and Hillcrest Hospital South, on day and night shifts.
- Ascension St. John - hires MLTs through Regional Medical Laboratory for its Tulsa-area hospital labs, including Sapulpa.
- Oklahoma Blood Institute - the blood bank hires medical technologists and lab scientists in Tulsa for donor blood testing, including evening shifts.
Medical Laboratory Technician Salaries in Tulsa
- Entry level: about $19 to $22 an hour for new MLT graduates.
- Experienced: roughly $22 to $27 an hour with ASCP certification and a few years on the bench.
- Senior: about $27 to $31 an hour for lead technicians and specialty benches.
These are estimates built from federal wage data for Tulsa metro clinical lab technologists and technicians, a combined group with a median near $26 an hour, and from Tulsa postings. Technicians with an associate degree generally earn less than bachelor-level scientists; a recent Tulsa lab scientist posting advertised $30 to $36 an hour. Night and evening differentials, MLT(ASCP) certification, blood bank or microbiology skills, and hospital versus reference lab work all move pay.
How to Become a Medical Laboratory Technician in Tulsa
Oklahoma does not issue a state license for laboratory technicians, so the requirement comes from federal lab rules and employers: usually an associate degree in medical laboratory technology or a related science, and national certification such as MLT(ASCP), which Tulsa hospital postings prefer or require. Tulsa Community College's Southeast Campus offers a Medical Laboratory Technician AAS accredited by NAACLS: a prerequisite year, then about 13 months in the MLT program with 320 hours of clinical practicum at partner labs. Graduates are eligible for the ASCP MLT exam.
What the Job Involves
Medical laboratory technicians process blood, urine and tissue samples, run and calibrate automated analyzers in hematology, chemistry, urinalysis and immunology, perform blood typing and crossmatching, culture and identify microorganisms, run quality control and report results to providers through the lab information system. Accuracy and turnaround time matter because physicians act on the numbers.
Skills Employers Look For
- MLT(ASCP) or equivalent national certification
- Hematology, chemistry, urinalysis and blood bank bench skills
- Quality control and instrument troubleshooting
- Lab information system and result reporting
- Specimen processing and phlebotomy basics
- Attention to detail and steady work under deadline
Career Path and Advancement
Tulsa MLTs can move from evening or night shifts to days, a specialty bench such as blood bank or microbiology, or a lead role. The next big step is a bachelor's degree and the MLS(ASCP) credential; Saint Francis runs its own School of Medical Laboratory Science. From there the ladder runs to lab supervisor, quality or point-of-care coordinator and lab manager.
Related Careers in Tulsa
If lab work interests you, these related Tulsa roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a medical laboratory technician in Oklahoma?
No. Oklahoma does not license lab technicians. Employers instead look for an MLT associate degree or equivalent and national certification, most often MLT(ASCP).
How much do medical laboratory technicians make in Tulsa?
New MLTs in Tulsa generally start around $19 to $22 an hour, experienced technicians earn about $22 to $27, and leads and specialty techs can reach $31. Bachelor-level lab scientists earn more.
Where can I study medical lab technology in Tulsa?
Tulsa Community College's Southeast Campus offers a NAACLS-accredited Medical Laboratory Technician AAS. It takes about five semesters full time, including a prerequisite year and a clinical practicum at partner labs.
What shifts do Tulsa lab technicians work?
Hospital labs such as the one at Saint Francis run around the clock, so evening, night and weekend shifts are common, often with a pay differential.
What is the difference between an MLT and an MLS?
An MLT usually holds an associate degree and the MLT(ASCP) credential, while an MLS, also called a medical technologist, holds a bachelor's degree and the MLS(ASCP). MLSs handle more complex testing and earn more, and some MLTs later bridge to MLS.
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