Also called: Newborn Screening Laboratory Scientist, Public Health Laboratory Scientist (NBS)
Tests the blood spots taken from nearly every US baby's heel to catch rare genetic diseases early, before symptoms appear.
Punches tiny circles from dried blood cards sent by every hospital in the state and runs them through tests for dozens of conditions. When a baby's result is abnormal, you rerun it and alert the follow-up team the same day, because early treatment can prevent brain damage or death.
Estimate; state government pay.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in biology, chemistry or medical lab science; some states require a lab license.
Ways in: 4-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Biology, Chemistry, Medical Laboratory Science.
Growing about average. Steady; states keep adding new conditions to screen.
Medium risk for 10 years. Lab instruments are very automated, but reviewing abnormal results and following up stay human.
Classes: Biology, Chemistry, Math.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.