SalaryByCity

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians vs Cooks, Restaurant: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

$61,890

Median annual salary

343,040 employed nationally

Cooks, Restaurant

$36,830

Median annual salary

1,452,130 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians professionals earn $25,060 more per year than Cooks, Restaurant professionals — that's 68.0% higher. At the 90th percentile, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians earns $97,990 compared to $47,340 for Cooks, Restaurant.

Salary Range Comparison

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$38,020 – $97,990
Cooks, Restaurant$28,010 – $47,340
$28,010$97,990

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileClinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansCooks, RestaurantDifference
10th Percentile$38,020$28,010+$10,010
25th Percentile$46,580$31,310+$15,270
Median (50th)$61,890$36,830+$25,060
75th Percentile$80,010$43,610+$36,400
90th Percentile$97,990$47,340+$50,650
Mean (Average)$65,320$37,730+$27,590

Employment Numbers

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

343,040

employed nationwide

Cooks, Restaurant

1,452,130

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$81,900
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$81,390
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$80,580
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$80,160
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$78,850

Best Cities for Cooks, Restaurant

CityMedian
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$46,970
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$46,960
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$46,180
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$45,230
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$45,040

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians or Cooks, Restaurant?
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $25,060 (68.0% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians?
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians salaries range from $38,020 (10th percentile) to $97,990 (90th percentile), with a median of $61,890.
What is the salary range for Cooks, Restaurant?
Cooks, Restaurant salaries range from $28,010 (10th percentile) to $47,340 (90th percentile), with a median of $36,830.
How many Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians and Cooks, Restaurant jobs are there?
There are approximately 343,040 Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians positions and 1,452,130 Cooks, Restaurant positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Cooks, Restaurant to Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians has a median salary of $61,890 while Cooks, Restaurant earns $36,830. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS