Medical Laboratory Technician Jobs in Denver, CO
Medical laboratory technicians in Denver run the tests behind nearly every diagnosis, and posted hospital ranges here reach the mid $40s an hour. AdventHealth Porter, Kaiser Permanente and HCA HealthONE all staff MLT benches. Here are the current openings, then who is hiring and how to get certified.
Current medical laboratory technician Openings in Denver, CO
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Medical Laboratory Technician Work in Denver
Denver's lab work clusters where its hospitals do. AdventHealth Porter runs its hospital lab on South Downing Street in south Denver, HCA HealthONE Presbyterian/St. Luke's staffs its lab on the East 19th Avenue hospital row in Uptown, and Kaiser Permanente Colorado processes specimens for its metro medical offices at Northfield Support Services near Central Park. AdventHealth also hires MLTs at its Littleton hospital on South Broadway, so some MLT jobs sit down I-25 in the south suburbs rather than in central Denver.
Hospital labs run around the clock, which is why so many Denver MLT postings are nights, evenings or PRN. Colorado does not license lab personnel, so the gate here is your associate degree and national certification, not a state board. That makes Denver a quicker market to enter than California or Nevada, where a state license is required.
Top Denver Employers Hiring Medical Laboratory Technicians
These Denver-area employers have posted MLT or laboratory technician roles on their own careers sites:
- AdventHealth - Porter Hospital on South Downing Street hires day-shift Medical Lab Tech I staff, and AdventHealth Littleton hires MLTs on nights and PRN.
- Kaiser Permanente - the regional lab at Northfield Support Services hires laboratory technicians in chemistry, immunology and microbiology under an SEIU Local 105 contract.
- HCA HealthONE Presbyterian/St. Luke's - the Uptown hospital posts a combined Medical Laboratory Scientist or Technician role open to MLT (ASCP) graduates.
Medical Laboratory Technician Salaries in Denver
- Entry level: about $24 to $28 an hour for newly certified MLTs.
- Experienced: roughly $29 to $38 an hour with a few years on a hospital bench.
- Senior: $40 to $48 an hour or more for lead techs and those with blood bank or microbiology depth.
These are estimates built from BLS May 2025 figures for the Denver-Aurora-Centennial metro (median about $33.70 an hour) and ranges Denver employers have posted, such as $23.78 to $44.22 at AdventHealth and $30.40 to $41.33 at Kaiser. Night and weekend differentials, ASCP certification and union contracts move pay the most.
How to Become a Medical Laboratory Technician in Denver
Most Denver employers ask for an associate degree in medical laboratory technology or a lab science, plus MLT certification from ASCP or AMT, often allowed within 6 to 12 months of hire. Colorado has no state license for lab technicians, so national certification is what employers check. The closest accredited program is Arapahoe Community College's Medical Laboratory Technology AAS, tied to the Littleton campus: 63 credits, hybrid online classes with weekend labs, a 13-week hospital internship, NAACLS accreditation and a reported 96% first-attempt ASCP pass rate for 2025. Students who finish general education first can complete the MLT courses in one year.
What the Job Involves
MLTs receive and process blood, urine and tissue specimens, run them on automated chemistry and hematology analyzers, perform quality control and calibration, and enter results into the laboratory information system. They flag critical values to nurses and physicians, troubleshoot instruments, and may rotate through blood bank, coagulation, urinalysis and microbiology. Accuracy and turnaround time matter, since emergency departments wait on the results.
Skills Employers Look For
- MLT (ASCP) or MLT (AMT) certification, or eligibility
- Hands-on experience with chemistry and hematology analyzers
- Quality control, calibration and instrument troubleshooting
- Laboratory information system and EHR data entry
- Attention to detail and safe specimen handling
- Willingness to work nights, weekends and holidays
Career Path and Advancement
Many Denver MLTs start on nights or PRN at a hospital lab, then move to days and specialize in blood bank or microbiology. A bachelor's degree opens the Medical Laboratory Scientist track, which Denver hospitals post at higher ranges, and Denver Health runs its own School of Medical Laboratory Science for that step. From there the ladder runs to lead technologist, lab supervisor and lab manager across the metro's hospital systems.
Related Careers in Denver
If lab work interests you, these related Denver healthcare roles are worth a look:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to work as a medical laboratory technician in Denver?
No. Colorado does not license medical laboratory personnel. Employers instead require national certification, usually MLT (ASCP) or MLT (AMT), and many let new hires earn it within 6 to 12 months of starting.
How much do medical laboratory technicians make in Denver?
Newly certified MLTs generally start around $24 to $28 an hour, experienced techs earn about $29 to $38, and senior or specialized techs can pass $40. Denver hospital postings have ranged from about $23.78 to $44.22 an hour.
How long does it take to become an MLT in Denver?
An associate degree typically takes two years. At Arapahoe Community College, students who complete general education first can finish the MLT coursework and 13-week internship in about one year, then sit for the ASCP exam.
What is the difference between an MLT and a Medical Laboratory Scientist?
An MLT holds an associate degree and performs routine and moderately complex testing. A Medical Laboratory Scientist holds a bachelor's degree, handles more complex testing and often leads a bench, and Denver hospitals post MLS roles at higher pay.
Are there night shift MLT jobs in Denver?
Yes. Hospital labs run 24 hours, and AdventHealth and Kaiser Permanente have both posted night or on-call laboratory roles. Night shifts usually carry a differential and are often the fastest way in for new graduates.
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