Medical Laboratory Technician Jobs in Atlanta, GA
Medical laboratory technicians in Atlanta run the analyzers behind every blood draw, from Emory's Midtown and Pill Hill hospitals to Northside's cancer centers. Emory posts MLT pay starting near $19 to $27 an hour. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get certified.
Current medical laboratory technician Openings in Atlanta, GA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Medical Laboratory Technician Work in Atlanta
Atlanta's lab work follows its hospital clusters. Emory Healthcare runs core and transfusion labs at Emory University Hospital Midtown on the Peachtree corridor and at Emory Saint Joseph's on Pill Hill in Sandy Springs, plus clinic labs inside The Emory Clinic. Northside Hospital staffs lab techs in its Atlanta Cancer Care infusion centers, including the tower at 5670 Peachtree Dunwoody Road by the Medical Center MARTA station. Piedmont Healthcare hires MLTs for night shifts at Piedmont Eastside in Snellville, out in Gwinnett.
The common thread is round-the-clock testing. Hospital labs run 24 hours, so evening, night and every-third-weekend rotations are normal, and they are often where new graduates get hired. Outpatient oncology and clinic labs run day hours with no weekends, which makes them popular with experienced techs.
Top Atlanta Employers Hiring Medical Laboratory Technicians
These Atlanta-area health systems have posted MLT roles on their own career sites:
- Emory Healthcare - hires MLT I and MLT II generalists for Emory Saint Joseph's transfusion service, Emory University Hospital Midtown and The Emory Clinic.
- Northside Hospital - staffs medical lab techs in its Atlanta Cancer Care infusion centers on day shifts with no weekends.
- Piedmont Healthcare - hires MLTs for nights at Piedmont Eastside in Snellville, with a sign-on bonus advertised.
Medical Laboratory Technician Salaries in Atlanta
- Entry level: about $19 to $23 an hour for new MLT graduates in their first certified role.
- Experienced: roughly $24 to $30 an hour for generalists with two or more years and full certification.
- Senior and specialty: $30 to $34 an hour or more for blood bank, transfusion service and lead roles.
These are estimates built from Emory's posted ranges, which run from a $19.36 minimum for an MLT I to a $31.62 midpoint for an experienced transfusion tech, and from federal wage data for the Atlanta metro. Night and weekend differentials, blood bank experience and a move up to a bachelor's-level Medical Laboratory Scientist role are what move pay the most.
How to Become a Medical Laboratory Technician in Atlanta
The standard route is an associate degree from a NAACLS-accredited MLT program followed by a national certification exam. Locally, Chattahoochee Technical College offers the Medical Laboratory Technology associate degree at its Marietta campus, a five-semester NAACLS-accredited program with ASCP MLT exam prep. Georgia does not issue an individual license to lab technicians; the state licenses the laboratory itself, and employers require national certification. Atlanta postings ask for MLT (ASCP), MLT (AMT) or MLT (AAB), and Emory allows new hires up to 18 months to earn it.
What the Job Involves
Medical laboratory technicians test blood, urine and other specimens so doctors can diagnose and treat patients. A shift means running chemistry, hematology and coagulation analyzers, performing quality control and calibration, crossmatching blood in the transfusion service, flagging critical values to nurses and physicians, and documenting every result in the lab information system. Accuracy and turnaround time are both measured.
Skills Employers Look For
- MLT certification from ASCP, AMT or AAB, or eligibility to sit for it
- Hands-on experience with chemistry and hematology analyzers
- Quality control, calibration and troubleshooting
- Blood bank and crossmatch procedures
- Lab information system and data entry accuracy
- Color acuity, which several Atlanta employers screen for
- Willingness to work nights, weekends and holidays
Career Path and Advancement
Many Atlanta techs start as lab assistants or phlebotomists while finishing school, then move to MLT I and MLT II as they gain experience and certification. From there, the path runs to specialty benches such as transfusion service or microbiology, lead tech, and, with a bachelor's degree, Medical Laboratory Scientist, which Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Piedmont Atlanta and Emory all hire. Lab supervisor and quality roles sit above that.
Related Careers in Atlanta
If lab work interests you, these related Atlanta healthcare roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to work as a medical lab technician in Georgia?
No. Georgia licenses clinical laboratories as facilities but does not issue a personal license to lab technicians. Atlanta employers require national certification instead, usually MLT (ASCP), MLT (AMT) or MLT (AAB).
How much do medical lab technicians make in Atlanta?
New MLTs generally start around $19 to $23 an hour, and experienced generalists earn about $24 to $30. Blood bank, transfusion and lead roles can reach $34 an hour or more with shift differentials.
Where can I study to become an MLT near Atlanta?
Chattahoochee Technical College offers a NAACLS-accredited Medical Laboratory Technology associate degree at its Marietta campus. The occupational courses take five semesters after prerequisites, and the program prepares students for the ASCP MLT exam.
What is the difference between an MLT and a medical laboratory scientist?
An MLT typically holds an associate degree and MLT certification, while a Medical Laboratory Scientist holds a bachelor's degree and MLS or MT certification. Scientists can perform more complex testing and usually earn more, and many Atlanta hospital postings for lead and specialty benches require the MLS level.
Do Atlanta lab jobs require night or weekend shifts?
Hospital labs run around the clock, so many Atlanta MLT roles include evenings, nights or a weekend rotation, such as every third weekend in Emory Saint Joseph's transfusion service. Outpatient oncology and clinic labs, like Northside's infusion centers, usually work weekday day shifts.
Ready to apply? Browse all Medical Laboratory Technician jobs in Atlanta, GA on LocalJobPage and apply today.