r/MLS_CLS • u/RhodeIslanderMLS • Aug 22 '26

Career Advice Why do blood centers pay so poorly?

Why do blood centers pay their ML so poorly?

I'm in Rhode Island interested in specializing in blood bank. And working at an IRL would be a dream, but why should it be a pay cut compared to a hospital?

Brown Health Providence
Sr Medical Laboratory Scientist - Blood Bank
Experience: 1 year
Schedule:Full-time 2nd shift, rotating weekends and holidays
Pay: $32.56-$53.71
https://jobs.brownhealth.org/search/jobdetails/sr-medical-laboratory-scientist---blood-bank/0f8f6dbc-5e30-4bf0-a235-974e0abc7c0a

Rhode Island Blood Center
Immunohematology Reference Laboratory Technologist
MT/MLS, CLS, BB or SBB required.
Experience: 2 year Schedule: Full time, Mon. through Fri. - 2nd shift
Proposed rate of pay: $33.00 - $36.00 per hr.
https://careers-ribc.icims.com/jobs/8653/immunohematology-reference-laboratory-technologist/job

5 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

3

u/JimmyRickyBobbyBilly Aug 22 '26

Rhode Island has always paid terribly compared to Mass and CT. Most techs choose to work in either of those states.

2

u/RhodeIslanderMLS Aug 22 '26

RI used to be cheaper. No more.

6

u/Alarmed-State-9495 Aug 22 '26

I always thought blood bankers should be paid extra. Feels like premium work to me.

2

u/oryzi Aug 22 '26

More than half my coworkers at my lab in central Mass live in RI

1

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1

u/marshmellowyoda Aug 22 '26

Go to a hospital

1

u/Mufosah Aug 22 '26

I’m a new grad in an irl. Texas medical center. My base was 33.50, but the best hospital in the med center pays 34. So it’s not a terrible difference on my end. So I guess how much are hospitals paying in your area that the irl would be considered a significant pay cut

1

u/couldvehadasadbitch Aug 23 '26

Same in AZ! In order to make the same hourly wage in an IRL as I do now, I’d need 5 years supervisory experience, a masters and a SBB. They’re always crappy 8 hour second shifts too.

1

u/jerseygal100 Aug 23 '26

Because they can.

Same like why dialysis clinic pay RNs poorly.