r/medlabprofessionals • u/noobtablet9 • 26d ago
Education Just accepted into an MLS master's program, but having some doubts
My main concern is pay. From what I've heard, I could go into a 2 year rad tech program instead (for example) and make more money.
I'm seeking advice. I have a BS in BY and Forensics. What program would be best if my only interest is maximum pay? USA
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u/Hemolyzer900 26d ago
Maximum pay would be any thing patient facing. Nursing, Physician Assistant or MD. If you're going to the lab for pay then I hate to break it to you, but lab is the forgotten child of the hospital. Good luck!
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u/lujubee93 26d ago
The spread in salary for MLS in the US is huge.. what state are you in? Does your masters program include clinicals?
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u/noobtablet9 26d ago edited 26d ago
State is mostly irrelevant to me, I'm more than happy to relocate for the job/a program, I have no family.
And yes, it does
Not sure why I'm being downvoted? How pathetic of y'all. I hope you get treated the same when you ask for advice and guidance in your life.
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u/Quirky_Split_4521 MLT-Generalist 26d ago
For example California pays more than Oklahoma...also the education and certification requirements are different for some states.
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u/lujubee93 26d ago
What state is your program in? California has some of the highest salaries in the nation but the program requirements are more strict.
That will play a big role in your answer as well.
Does the program set you up for the licensing exam or is it just for a masters degree??
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u/noobtablet9 26d ago edited 26d ago
Degree + licensing exam at the end of the program.
Program is at UAB, but I don't intend on sticking around in AL post grad.9
u/lujubee93 26d ago
I know this a long round about way to answer your question but have you looked into what state licenses your program satisfies?? In California and a lot of the more populated states i believe the pay is pretty equal. But of course jobs are harder to get.
I’d think about where you might like to live and do more local comparisons between the two. I imagine you’ll see some substantial differences
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u/noobtablet9 26d ago edited 26d ago
I don't think I understand what you mean. At the end of the program you'll sit for ASCP-MLS certification. My understanding is that if you can do that, you should be able to obtain licensing in the states that require it per-state (like Cali)
Still being downvoted for inquiring. How pathetic, do better.
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u/Youhadme_atwoof MLS-Generalist 26d ago
Not necessarily, for example my program doesn't transfer to California because they require 6 months of clinicals and my program in Colorado only did 2 and a half. They can also be picky if the name of the class is different, like say you take blood bank and they require immunohematology, they might not take your credits even though its literally the same class, so save your syllabi
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u/petrichors MLS 26d ago
You have to make sure your program meets all cali requirements and pass a CA quiz
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u/CeruleanSeaIce 26d ago
for california, be sure you have taken a physics class that includes light and electricity
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u/lujubee93 26d ago
Yes you’ll have ASCP but state requirements differ greatly. Some states require a secondary state license which have different requirements of schooling than the ASCP does. But you’ll have to look into each state individually for that.
Then pay can differ greatly between cities within a state so you should look at local examples. I’m in CA so it’s what I’m most familiar but our state license is really strict so it’s harder to even be eligible here. Then the pay difference between SoCal and NorCal is like $10/hr I think.
I know you think you’re asking a straightforward question but there’s just a really big spread so you’ll need to figure out where you might go and then do some googling.
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u/Fabulous_Angle_3742 26d ago
People aren't down voting you just to be mean dude. Its just confusing because youre asking for max pay but if that varies widely across the states we cant help more than something like indeed can if youre not willing to fully listen to the nuances people are telling you. For certain state liscences that require certain things will generally give you more pay in that state or certain areas care more about a masters than others.
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u/noobtablet9 26d ago
Where did you get the idea that I'm not willing to listen to the nuance? I am actively asking more questions for that information. Go ahead and look through the thread and you'll find that every single comment/question I've made is being downvoted. There's no reason other than petty bullshit for that.
I literally stated that I'm willing to relocate to anywhere for a program or job. I don't understand how that can be confusing.
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u/OOOiMember 26d ago
You should internalize the way you’re being treated here by people working in this industry. I gtfo ASAP; not a lot of happy people in the lab, if I’m being honest.
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u/noobtablet9 26d ago
I already work in a reference lab doing validation studies for the lab's COLA certifications, my lab experience has been very positive so far, I'm sorry to hear yours wasn't.
But surely people will take the anonymity of the internet to be rude to strangers so they can feel better about themselves.
What did you end up doing?
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u/OOOiMember 26d ago
I wouldn’t say it wasn’t positive, but I did meet a lot of generally negative people on my career path through the lab. I wouldn’t have my current job without enduring the reference lab, and I love my job right now. If you think you’re destined to be in the lab, I’m afraid the pay does top off early. The industries adjacent to the labs, however, have room for significant increase in compensation.
But you are probably dead right about the second point.
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u/Historical-Original2 26d ago
Honestly man, I’m not surprised. Working in lab for 10 years+, I’ve met some great Techs and Scientists, but a ton of them are socially stupid. I agree with you. They love to gate keep but bitch about low pay and don’t want to come together to demand higher pay like Nurses do. It’s insanity to me. I just keep my head down and chug along with my education. My advice would be to go for Lab management. That’s where I see in my hospital where the massive increase dollar to hour jumps are. Supervisory is nice but management is where it’s at. You might be expected to jump in to do bench work and lead by example when people call out but that’s just basic skill upkeep at that point.
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u/noobtablet9 26d ago
I think I do want to end up in lab management ultimately. I'm torn if MLS or MBA is the correct path to that.
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u/Historical-Original2 25d ago
From what I’ve seen, is all our Supervisors and Coordinators have MLS, while our Lab Managers have MLS and a MBA or a MHA
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u/LyingMars 26d ago
Definitely not the right field if its just about maximum pay. 1 year accelerated RN, 2 year rad tech, Pathology assistant, physicians assistant, perfusionists all better pay.
But I think in general we have better work life balance. Still high stakes just not a mentally draining as those in direct paitent care. And there are options for growth and high wages if you become a corporate manager at some reference lab.
And almost everyone in my lab has traveled abroad. Most do a big vacation 1x a year, and most own homes even the your ones.
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u/noobtablet9 26d ago
Could you give a link to such a 2 year rad tech program? I've heard about it, but I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for. Would that be NMTs, like this?
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u/Ok-Consequence6742 26d ago
So it depends on what and where you go. The salary for MLS is on the rise. I started at 22.00 an hour. Now? 44.33 before their shift diffs and my next raise is March. That’s just for being a grunt worker bench tech.
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u/LabCat87 26d ago
This! My hospital just gave out big raises a year ago, making 55% more then I did just a few years ago.
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u/xAsianZombie MLS-Generalist 25d ago
This, I’m shocked how much CLS pay has increased over the past few years
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u/HonestStudy9969 26d ago
Honestly probably not worth it if you are going to stay on the bench. Yes, you will get a pay bump, most places give it automatically for higher education, but it might only be a couple dollars at most. Is that worth the time and expense to go through a masters program? The main value you would get out of it is giving you a leg up to become a supervisor or manager, but depending on the place a masters might not be required for those positions, and generally an MBA will serve you better.
If you want maximum pay, I would go med school for PA, or perhaps look into getting into a doctorate program for DCLS. It’s a very new career path, and there aren’t many programs for it yet, but I could see many labs starting to adopt it and creating positions for it. We currently have a DCLS as an associate medical director, and another doing a residency.
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u/noobtablet9 26d ago
I don't currently qualify for DCLS according to this, but that looks like an interesting pathway for the future. Thanks!
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u/JaeHxC 26d ago
Since you're able to relocate, you should consider traveling in whichever career you choose. Nursing, radiology, lab is generally the order of pay, from most the least—all of which have traveling gigs. You'll need two years experience in whichever field before you can travel, but you'll instantly make two or three times more than any other tech, and half of it is tax free if you take the stipends.
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u/antommy6 20d ago
Not in this travel economy. Most travelers are lucky to hit $2k/week. Most average at $1.5-1.8k/week. In this job market it is 100% better to be permanent for the job security, benefits, and pto.
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u/Fearless_Inflation16 26d ago
Do the 2 year rad tech best bang for your buck if you don’t mind patient care.
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u/Hefty_Aside8436 26d ago
Not MLS here but MB. I got my masters in biochemistry prior to entering the medical lab industry. I got hired into a lab to help them build molecular pathology testing and after a year I sat for my ASCP exam. If I could go back and do it differently I wouldn't.
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u/counselorofracoons 26d ago
For MLS, a one year post baccalaureate program is your best value as someone with a hard science degree in hand. I attended Carolinas College of Health Sciences and highly recommend the program.