Clinical Laboratory Science Degree Programs in Panama City, FL (2026)

Quick answer: Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians in the Panama City area earn a median $49,730 per year, below the national median of $62,930, and the metro employs about 160 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Clinical Laboratory Science Pay in Panama City, FL

MetricPanama City metroFloridaNational
Median annual wage$49,730$60,510$62,930
10th percentile$32,890$37,530$38,910
25th percentile$38,480$41,680$47,650
75th percentile$77,030$79,920$81,450
90th percentile$83,250$96,860$100,990
Employment16025,790332,940
Location quotient0.84-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Panama City median of $49,730 is below the national median of $62,930, and below the Florida statewide median of $60,510 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 0.84 means clinical laboratory technologists and technicians are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

Clinical laboratory employment concentrates around hospital systems and the reference laboratories that serve a region, so the local picture follows the health system rather than population alone.

Other Florida Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Miami$61,9707,570
Tampa$62,5504,830
Orlando$57,9602,820
Jacksonville$63,3301,890
Cape Coral$63,5601,090
Gainesville$56,240810
North Port$67,530770
Deltona$56,720700

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Laboratory personnel requirements are set at state level and differ more than in most allied-health fields, with some states operating their own personnel licensure and others relying on federal laboratory regulation alone. The national constants are programmatic accreditation through NAACLS and certification through the ASCP Board of Certification, which employers generally treat as the working credential.

See the Florida licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state health department or clinical laboratory personnel board.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 3 schools within 243 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 3 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

University of South Florida

Tampa, FL 243.2 miles away BOC Score 81.8
Tuition $6,410 - $22,859
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 43.2%
  • Graduation rate: 75.7%
  • Programs offered: 19
  • Annual completions: 1522
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $62,079 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

University of West Florida

Pensacola, FL 98.6 miles away BOC Score 66.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 60.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 15
  • Annual completions: 743
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $67,723 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Santa Fe College

Gainesville, FL 193.8 miles away BOC Score 63.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 77
  • Annual completions: 1446
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $53,155 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do clinical laboratory technologists and technicians make in Panama City?

The median annual wage for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in the Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL metro area is $49,730, below the national median of $62,930 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many clinical laboratory technologists and technicians work in the Panama City area?

The Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL metro area employs about 160 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in Panama City need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Laboratory personnel requirements are set at state level and differ more than in most allied-health fields, with some states operating their own personnel licensure and others relying on federal laboratory regulation alone. The national constants are programmatic accreditation through NAACLS and certification through the ASCP Board of Certification, which employers generally treat as the working credential. Confirm current requirements with your state health department or clinical laboratory personnel board.

Can I study clinical laboratory science online from Panama City?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state health department or clinical laboratory personnel board.

Is Panama City a better market than the rest of Florida?

The Panama City metro median is $49,730 against a statewide median of $60,510 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2010), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.