Medical Laboratory Technician Jobs in Albuquerque, NM
Medical laboratory technicians in Albuquerque run the tests behind most diagnoses, and the work is concentrated at TriCore Reference Laboratories, Quest Diagnostics and the hospital labs. Starting pay sits around $20 to $23 an hour. Here are the current openings, followed by who hires and how to qualify.
Current medical laboratory technician Openings in Albuquerque, NM
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Medical Laboratory Technician Work in Albuquerque
Lab work in Albuquerque centers on a few big operators. TriCore Reference Laboratories, the state's largest lab with more than 1,400 employees and 60-plus locations, runs its core lab on Woodward Place NE and staffs hospital departments such as the lab at Lovelace Medical Center Downtown. Quest Diagnostics runs patient service centers and a lab site on Office Blvd NE, and the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center in the southeast quadrant keeps its own clinical lab.
Federal wage data counts about 1,280 clinical lab technologists and technicians in the metro. Because reference labs test samples from clinics across the state around the clock, evening, night and on-call shifts are common, and they are often the fastest way in for a new graduate of CNM's program on the South Valley Campus.
Top Albuquerque Employers for Medical Laboratory Technicians
These Albuquerque employers hire medical laboratory technicians and related bench staff:
- TriCore Reference Laboratories - the state's largest clinical lab hires MLTs with an associate degree and ASCP certification for its core lab and hospital departments, with tuition reimbursement and shift differentials.
- Quest Diagnostics - the national lab hires MLTs, including on-call MLT II roles at its Office Blvd NE site posted from about $21.32 an hour.
- Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center - the New Mexico VA hires medical technicians for its hospital lab through USAJOBS, most recently at GS-5.
- University of New Mexico - UNM Student Health and Counseling on main campus has hired for a lab role open to MLT-certified applicants, at $20.00 to $26.50 an hour.
Medical Laboratory Technician Salaries in Albuquerque
- Entry level: about $20 to $23 per hour for newly certified MLTs.
- Experienced: roughly $23 to $28 per hour with a few years at the bench.
- Senior / lead: $28 to $32 or more per hour for lead techs and specialty departments.
These are estimates drawn from posted employer ranges and federal May 2025 wage data, which puts the Albuquerque median for clinical lab technologists and technicians at about $22.71 an hour. ASCP certification, night and weekend differentials, and moving into blood bank, microbiology or lead roles all raise pay. A bachelor's degree and the medical laboratory scientist credential open the higher technologist scale.
How to Become a Medical Laboratory Technician in Albuquerque
Most employers want an associate degree in medical laboratory technology and national certification, usually the ASCP MLT. Central New Mexico Community College offers an MLT associate degree accredited by NAACLS, with theory classes online and labs on the South Valley Campus, starting each fall. New Mexico does not issue a state license for laboratory personnel, so you do not apply to a state board; the ASCP credential and federal CLIA education rules are what employers check.
What the Job Involves
MLTs process blood, urine and tissue samples and run tests in chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, microbiology and blood bank. Daily work includes loading and maintaining analyzers, running quality control, checking results against reference ranges, flagging critical values to nurses and doctors, and documenting everything in the lab information system.
Skills Employers Look For
- ASCP MLT certification or eligibility
- Associate degree in medical laboratory technology
- Analyzer operation and troubleshooting
- Quality control and CLIA documentation
- Attention to detail and accurate specimen handling
- Comfort with evening, night and on-call shifts
Career Path and Advancement
A common Albuquerque lab path starts in phlebotomy or as a clinical lab assistant at TriCore or Quest, moves to MLT after CNM's associate degree, and grows from there into lead technician, a specialty bench such as blood bank or microbiology, or a bachelor's degree and the medical laboratory scientist credential. From there the path leads to supervisor and lab manager roles at TriCore, the VA or the hospital labs.
Related Careers in Albuquerque
If lab work interests you, these related Albuquerque roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a medical lab technician in New Mexico?
No. New Mexico does not license clinical laboratory personnel. Employers in Albuquerque instead ask for an associate degree in medical laboratory technology and national certification, usually the ASCP MLT.
How much do medical lab technicians make in Albuquerque?
New MLTs usually start around $20 to $23 an hour, and experienced techs earn about $23 to $28. Federal May 2025 data puts the metro median for lab technologists and technicians at about $22.71 an hour.
Where can I study to become an MLT in Albuquerque?
Central New Mexico Community College runs a NAACLS-accredited MLT associate degree. Theory is online and the student labs are on the South Valley Campus, with a new class starting each fall.
What is the difference between an MLT and a medical technologist?
An MLT holds an associate degree and runs routine and many complex tests. A medical technologist or medical laboratory scientist holds a bachelor's degree, handles the most complex testing and usually earns more. Finishing a bachelor's is the usual way an MLT moves up.
Do lab jobs in Albuquerque require night shifts?
Often, especially for new hires. Reference and hospital labs test around the clock, so evening, night and on-call shifts are common and usually pay a differential.
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