text: what are the pay rates for medical laboratory technology?   medical technologists have a phd in microbiology or in biochemistry. it pays very well with great benefits. off the top of my head, depending upon regional variations, this position would start at $60,000 per year with lots of vacation time and maybe a bonus for relocating to a different area of the country. lab technicians make much less, generally $25,000 - $35,000 per year to start. biologists and biochemists probably make about $40,000 per year to start.