Medical Laboratory Technician Jobs in Milwaukee, WI
Medical laboratory technicians in Milwaukee start near $24 an hour at Aurora clinic labs, and Froedtert and ProHealth Care are paying sign-on bonuses of $4,000 to $8,000 to fill their benches. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get certified.
Current medical laboratory technician Openings in Milwaukee, WI
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Medical Laboratory Technician Work in Milwaukee
Lab work in metro Milwaukee is spread across hospital core labs, outpatient clinic labs and the Versiti blood center and diagnostic laboratories. Aurora Health Care runs labs at St. Luke's on the south side and staffs clinic labs on N Mayfair Rd in Wauwatosa, on W Good Hope Rd on the northwest side and in Germantown. Froedtert recruits MLTs for its Menomonee Falls and West Bend hospitals, and ProHealth Care hires for Oconomowoc Memorial and Mukwonago Hospital out in Waukesha County.
Demand is steady enough that the big systems now post MLT and Medical Laboratory Scientist openings together and pay to bring people in. Many postings accept a new graduate with an associate degree and give you six months to a year to earn your national certification, so a two-year program is a direct route into a job paying about $24 an hour or more.
Top Milwaukee Employers Hiring Medical Laboratory Technicians
These employers have posted MLT and combined lab technician roles in the Milwaukee metro on their own career sites:
- Aurora Health Care - the Advocate Health system hires MT and MLT staff for Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center and for clinic float roles in Wauwatosa, on Good Hope Rd and in Germantown.
- Froedtert Health - the Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin network posts Medical Lab Scientist and Medical Lab Tech roles across multiple sites, with a Lab Services career ladder and sign-on bonuses.
- ProHealth Care - the Waukesha County system hires MLS or MLT staff at Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital and Mukwonago Hospital, with a sign-on bonus of up to $7,500.
- Versiti - the Milwaukee blood center and diagnostic lab hires associate and senior laboratory technologists, with an associate degree in medical laboratory technology among the accepted backgrounds.
Medical Laboratory Technician Salaries in Milwaukee
- Entry level: about $23 to $26 an hour for newly certified MLTs.
- Experienced: roughly $27 to $33 an hour for MLTs with a few years on the bench.
- Senior / MLS level: $35 to $45 an hour for Medical Laboratory Scientists and senior technologists.
These are estimates from Milwaukee postings and federal wage data, which put the metro median for lab technologists and technicians near $30 an hour. Pay moves with credentials (an MLS with a bachelor's degree earns more than an MLT) and employer, and sign-on bonuses from $4,000 to $8,000 are common at Froedtert and ProHealth Care.
How to Become a Medical Laboratory Technician in Milwaukee
Wisconsin does not issue a state license for clinical laboratory personnel. Employers require national certification instead, usually MLT(ASCP) from the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification or the MLT credential from American Medical Technologists, earned within six months to a year of hire. The local route is Milwaukee Area Technical College's Medical Laboratory Technician associate degree at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus: 62 credits over two years, NAACLS accredited, with about 24 seats a year and a waiting list, so apply early. To move up to Medical Laboratory Scientist, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers a NAACLS-accredited Medical Laboratory Science bachelor's degree.
What the Job Involves
Medical laboratory technicians run the tests doctors use to diagnose and treat patients. Daily work includes receiving and processing blood, urine and tissue specimens, running chemistry, hematology, coagulation and urinalysis analyzers, performing quality control and calibration, checking results against reference ranges, flagging critical values to nurses and physicians, and keeping records accurate in the laboratory information system.
Skills Employers Look For
- MLT(ASCP) or AMT certification, or eligibility to sit for it
- Operating and troubleshooting automated analyzers
- Quality control and regulatory documentation
- Careful specimen handling and safety practice
- Laboratory information system experience
- Willingness to work rotating weekends and off shifts
Career Path and Advancement
Many Milwaukee MLTs start on an evening or night shift in a hospital core lab or as a clinic lab float, then specialize in microbiology, blood bank or chemistry. Froedtert's Lab Services career ladder is built to move lab assistants to MLT and MLT to scientist, and a UWM bachelor's degree opens scientist and technologist roles at Aurora, Froedtert and Children's Wisconsin, then lead technologist and lab supervisor posts.
Related Careers in Milwaukee
If laboratory work interests you, these related Milwaukee healthcare roles are worth a look:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to work as a lab technician in Wisconsin?
No. Wisconsin does not license clinical laboratory personnel. Milwaukee employers require national certification instead, such as MLT(ASCP) or AMT, and many let new graduates start work and earn it within six months to a year.
How much do medical laboratory technicians make in Milwaukee?
New MLTs generally start around $23 to $26 an hour, and experienced techs earn about $27 to $33. Medical Laboratory Scientists with a bachelor's degree can reach $45 an hour at the top of Aurora's posted ranges.
How long does it take to become an MLT in Milwaukee?
MATC's Medical Laboratory Technician associate degree takes about two years full time, plus time on the waiting list for one of its limited seats. After graduating you sit for the national certification exam.
What is the difference between an MLT and an MLS?
An MLT holds an associate degree and performs routine and moderately complex testing. A Medical Laboratory Scientist holds a bachelor's degree, handles more complex testing and troubleshooting, and earns more; UWM's Medical Laboratory Science program is the local route.
Do Milwaukee labs offer sign-on bonuses?
Yes. Froedtert advertises sign-on bonuses of $4,000 to $8,000 for lab scientists and technicians, and ProHealth Care has offered up to $7,500 for full-time lab roles in Waukesha County.
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