Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · Private for-profit · Certificate · Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions

a smaller institution with 630 students in San Marcos, CA.

Program Analysis

At $31,071 per year, Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research graduates from Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos earn below the $39,620 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

AI risk is moderate — 24% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research graduates.

The median debt load of $3,166 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

At #112 out of 146 programs, Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos's financial outcomes for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $31,071 to $36,407 over five years (17% 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.

47 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
44
Low End
47
Score
48
High End
Earnings $31,071/yr (-22% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (76% shielded)
Job Market Large (79,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$374K
4.0% annual growth
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Median Debt at Graduation
$3,166
1.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$36,407
17% growth from Year 1

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%
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
$105,620
+17.3% growth 52% AI-proof
Surgical technologists
$62,830
+4.5% growth 93% AI-proof
Health technologists and technicians, all other
$48,790
+5.2% growth 48% AI-proof

View all 6 career paths with full salary data →

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

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Other Schools

Other Majors at Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 47/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos?
This program scores 47/100 — on the lower end for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How affordable is Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research at Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos?
Median debt of just $3,166 against $31,071/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 1 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Can you still earn well with Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research from Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos?
Lower starting pay at Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Are there apprenticeship options for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research?
Yes — 15 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research career paths, including Blocker & Cutter Contact Lens. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
How many job openings are there for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research graduates?
With approximately 79,700 annual openings across mapped careers, Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research offers a large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →