Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Chippewa Valley Technical College
a smaller institution with 4,127 students in Eau Claire, WI.
Program Analysis
Graduates earn $47,505/yr, edging above the $39,620 national average for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.
The 57.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 24% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research graduates.
At $20,000 in median debt against $47,505 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.
Ranked #38 out of 146 programs, Chippewa Valley Technical College's Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth is modest: $47,505 to $53,266 over five years (12% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.
With 15 registered apprenticeships mapped to Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.
Earnings Overview
Projected 10-Year Earnings
Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.
Top Career Paths
Top career paths for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research graduates by median salary.
| Career Path | Median Salary | Growth | AI-ProofAI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health specialties teachers, postsecondary | $105,620 | +17.3% | 52% |
| Surgical technologists | $62,830 | +4.5% | 93% |
| Health technologists and technicians, all other | $48,790 | +5.2% | 48% |
About Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research Careers
You’ll likely start your career in a direct patient-care role like a phlebotomist. You’ll spend your days in a clinic or hospital, using needles and vacutainers to draw blood, calming nervous patients, and meticulously labeling samples that doctors rely on for life-saving diagnoses. From there, you can advance into a more specialized technologist role. This could mean operating complex diagnostic analyzers in a lab or becoming a surgical technologist, where you’ll prepare operating rooms and pass critical instruments to surgeons during procedures.
Read the full Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research career guide →
Compare & Explore
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research Overview
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