Welder to Medical Laboratory Technician

Summary: 2 of the 6 core skills listed for Medical Laboratory Technician carry over directly from Welder. The US median salary changes by +12% ($52K → $58K). Difficulty: Challenging, typically around 9 months of focused upskilling.

The two roles

Welder: Join metal parts using various welding techniques.

Medical Laboratory Technician: Perform lab tests on blood, tissue, and other samples for diagnosis. Growth outlook +7%; AI-augmented (AI changes how the work is done, not whether it exists). Typical education: associate. Typical experience: 0-2 years + certification.

Skills that carry over

• Quality Control
• Safety

Skills to learn for Medical Laboratory Technician

• Lab Techniques
• Instrumentation
• Attention to Detail
• Data Analysis

Salary comparison (median, estimated)

Salary figures are estimates benchmarked against public compensation data — see methodology.

Next steps

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Related

Welder career guide | Medical Laboratory Technician career guide

Other transitions to consider

• Welder to Electrician — 2 of the core skills carry over
• Welder to CNC Machinist — 6 of the core skills carry over
• Welder to Manufacturing Technician — 2 of the core skills carry over
• Welder to Sheet Metal Worker — 5 of the core skills carry over
• Textile Technician to Medical Laboratory Technician — 3 of the core skills carry over
• Research Scientist to Medical Laboratory Technician — 2 of the core skills carry over
• Chemical Engineer to Medical Laboratory Technician — 2 of the core skills carry over
• Petroleum Engineer to Medical Laboratory Technician — 3 of the core skills carry over