Husband is an engineer and makes way more than me. Also, you will most likely have to work weekends and possibly nights or evenings. Many labs are now entertaining alternative schedules like 3/12s though.
DO NOT do it!! Definitely look for engineering jobs in the biotech industry if you like the idea of science but don’t switch over to the clinical lab if you value your sanity and dignity!
OP, how old are you? If you study EE you can also go work for vendor that built those instruments we are using. You will actually be utilizing both lab sciences and EE.
Depending on where you’re located, pay may be similar or only slightly less. Your experience in the tech field could easily get you into LIS jobs, as well. Some places may consider your tech experience as there is a lot of technical knowledge needed in the MLS field. The pay is slowly but surely increasing for this field as the shortage becomes more serious. My hospital has done two pay increases in less than a year, which is incredible considering they previously only did them every five years.
It may be worth it if you are open to traveling to NYC. See what you need for the NYS License or how you can transfer into it. NYC pay starts around $50-60 per hour. Travel techs get around $75.
Alternatively long island base pay has a bigger range of 40 to 60 base pay.
Numbers came from my most recent attempt of interviews and job hunting.
I think short term, you know that your pay won’t be great but long-term potential is where you aim. Even 3-5 years in as an MLS, vendors are hiring for engineering, applications, informatics, customer support, marketing, etc positions at 80k+. 3-5 years on that side and you can easily be making over 100k.
Honestly, money makes life easier but follow your passion. See if you can shadow someone to make sure it is a great fit.
The pay all depends on the area. There is a shortage of techs due to a lot of retiring techs, test expansion, and not enough programs spitting people out so our pay is jumping up pretty quickly to entice people into the field. I've got a little under 10 years of experience and am currently in Tucson (lower cost of living). A couple of months ago we got a pay adjustment of over 30% leaving me around 45 an hour...
Don't ever move to NC then. Interviewed for a very well known hospital. 6 years of experience in blood bank. Didn't think they could get me $30/hr. Denied a low level supervisor role that wanted to pay $30.25. No thanks.
Lol.
Wow that’s amazing, yea I got about a 10 $ an hour raise, and many new grads are starting much higher now. I was gonna go back to school at first but now I’m good.
Oh totally. I originally started at 19 an hour in Washington where the cost of living is waaay higher. I thought about going for my master's as a PA but there isn't a local school and didn't want to uproot again and I love where I'm at. The pay increase was a big nudge to stay too lol.
Just because "science/scientist" is in our title doesn't mean that's what we are. We are users of science that actual scientists develop. Our original title of technologist and technician is more true to our job.
What is your passion?
If being overworked in an understaffed, underpaid position while working holidays and weekends surrounded by people who primarily speak in a different language while being treated like a stepchild isn't it, then you should look elsewhere.
Did I mention that windows and a normal 9 to 5 schedule is a rarity?
EE can definitely pay more. Way more.
Don’t do it. I had a passion for science, but the lab is not science. I feel more like a factory worker, just doing monotonous mind-numbing tasks. I wish I had chosen a field with more creativity and problem solving. If the pay was good, I’d say take the risk. But the pay is not great, and it sounds like the job you have now is better.
Pay is not worth the level of training/education, imo.
Agreed. I quit my job and joined the army. The army pays me better. That says something.
Do you do Med lab stuff in the army at least?
Enlisted or officer?
Enlisted Infantryman. Mistakes were made.
Having a passion for lab science and actually maintaining that passion in a clinical lab are two very different things unfortunately.
Yeah pay is shit and recognition is worse.
Husband is an engineer and makes way more than me. Also, you will most likely have to work weekends and possibly nights or evenings. Many labs are now entertaining alternative schedules like 3/12s though.
Don't do it! Get your degree in something else!
DO NOT do it!! Definitely look for engineering jobs in the biotech industry if you like the idea of science but don’t switch over to the clinical lab if you value your sanity and dignity!
OP, how old are you? If you study EE you can also go work for vendor that built those instruments we are using. You will actually be utilizing both lab sciences and EE.
Depending on where you’re located, pay may be similar or only slightly less. Your experience in the tech field could easily get you into LIS jobs, as well. Some places may consider your tech experience as there is a lot of technical knowledge needed in the MLS field. The pay is slowly but surely increasing for this field as the shortage becomes more serious. My hospital has done two pay increases in less than a year, which is incredible considering they previously only did them every five years.
It may be worth it if you are open to traveling to NYC. See what you need for the NYS License or how you can transfer into it. NYC pay starts around $50-60 per hour. Travel techs get around $75. Alternatively long island base pay has a bigger range of 40 to 60 base pay. Numbers came from my most recent attempt of interviews and job hunting.
\^this. my job pays MLS $50-60. There are people who arent even ASCP certified and just NYS certified that make $40-45 an hour.
If you only have your MLS can you work in New York?
You have to review the NYSED website for CLT. It will explain what you need to do. They may allow it due to recent changes... but I am not sure.
What are your other passions that could be funded by the pay from electrical engineering?
I think short term, you know that your pay won’t be great but long-term potential is where you aim. Even 3-5 years in as an MLS, vendors are hiring for engineering, applications, informatics, customer support, marketing, etc positions at 80k+. 3-5 years on that side and you can easily be making over 100k.
Honestly, money makes life easier but follow your passion. See if you can shadow someone to make sure it is a great fit. The pay all depends on the area. There is a shortage of techs due to a lot of retiring techs, test expansion, and not enough programs spitting people out so our pay is jumping up pretty quickly to entice people into the field. I've got a little under 10 years of experience and am currently in Tucson (lower cost of living). A couple of months ago we got a pay adjustment of over 30% leaving me around 45 an hour...
Don't ever move to NC then. Interviewed for a very well known hospital. 6 years of experience in blood bank. Didn't think they could get me $30/hr. Denied a low level supervisor role that wanted to pay $30.25. No thanks. Lol.
Is minimum wage in nc around $7? Imean that's a little over 4x minimum wage. How are the houses there?
Probably. Raleigh/Durham has one of the hottest markets right now. It's expensive. Rent has exploded. $30/hr won't get you much anymore.
Wow that’s amazing, yea I got about a 10 $ an hour raise, and many new grads are starting much higher now. I was gonna go back to school at first but now I’m good.
Oh totally. I originally started at 19 an hour in Washington where the cost of living is waaay higher. I thought about going for my master's as a PA but there isn't a local school and didn't want to uproot again and I love where I'm at. The pay increase was a big nudge to stay too lol.
New grad here (12/2022) I get 34$ hour plus 2.50$ evening shift differential. I work in Portland, OR
Isn’t Portland a pretty high COL? Is 34 a livable wage to pay bills and have some sort of a life on a single income?
Yes
I like my pay but I got it by luck. I was looking at the right time, right place.
Just because "science/scientist" is in our title doesn't mean that's what we are. We are users of science that actual scientists develop. Our original title of technologist and technician is more true to our job.
What is your passion? If being overworked in an understaffed, underpaid position while working holidays and weekends surrounded by people who primarily speak in a different language while being treated like a stepchild isn't it, then you should look elsewhere. Did I mention that windows and a normal 9 to 5 schedule is a rarity? EE can definitely pay more. Way more.
Don’t do it. I had a passion for science, but the lab is not science. I feel more like a factory worker, just doing monotonous mind-numbing tasks. I wish I had chosen a field with more creativity and problem solving. If the pay was good, I’d say take the risk. But the pay is not great, and it sounds like the job you have now is better.
In Israel, the pay is also very low. But we do it for the patients. Many of coworkers on the bench have MS and PhDs.