Job Opportunities

Medical Laboratory Science (MLS), formerly known as Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) professionals enjoy a wide range of job opportunities and options for professional growth centered on their skills, expertise, and interests. The average starting salary for a MLS graduate is in the lower $30,000s. Graduates with five years of work experience report earnings in the lower $40,000s. MLS graduates from Illinois State University hold professional positions with the following titles:

• Staff Technologist: Works in the laboratory of a multi-bed hospital or clinic. Performs routine chemical, hematological, immunologic and microbiologic testing on human blood and other specimens, including but not limited to cholesterol testing, glucose testing, complete blood counts, blood typing and cross-matching and throat cultures.
• Forensic Scientist: Works closely with law enforcement in a crime laboratory. Processes evidence gathered at crime scenes. Job duties include blood typing, hand writing analysis, fingerprint identification and DNA analysis.
• Laboratory Manager: Directs laboratory operations in a multi-bed hospital. Oversees many employees including department supervisors, medical technologists, medical laboratory technicians, phlebotomists and clerical personnel.
• Medical Sales Representative: Works for a large medical product manufacturer. Represents the company traveling to trade shows or individual laboratory customers marketing the company's products which may range from multi-functional instrumentation to chemical reagent kits.
• Research Associate: Works for a medical research or pharmaceutical company. Investigates the safety and reliability of new medical products or drugs.
• Departmental Supervisor: Works in a multi-bed hospital overseeing the daily operation of one to the specialty area of a medical laboratory such as chemistry, microbiology or hematology.
• Quality Assurance Manager: Works for a multi-bed hospital or other medically related organization. Coordinates programs to improve overall quality of patient care and organizational services.
• Technical Service Representative: Works for a large medical products manufacturer. Trains customers using the company's products and serves as an expert resource when questions arise concerning that product.
• Regional Blood Bank Director: Oversees the services provided by a regional blood bank. Supervises personnel, manages finances and directs operations of this community resource.
• College/University Faculty: This person teaches in a university medical laboratory science or community college medical laboratory technician program. This person develops curriculum, lectures and supervises laboratory experiences of students in the program.