The 2024 PhD Board-Certified Clinical Chemist Compensation Survey

Board-certified clinical chemists with doctor of philosophy (PhD) degrees are essential to laboratory medicine and healthcare, yet comprehensive data on their total compensation is limited. The Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM, formerly AACC) Society for Young Clinical Laboratorians Core Committee conducted its fifth compensation survey in April 2024, providing updated data on salary, benefits, and job satisfaction among board-certified clinical chemists.

The 2024 compensation survey was distributed to all doctoral-level ADLM members based in the United States and Canada (n = 1576). Confidential, self-reported data were collected from respondents on various demographic and professional characteristics, including academic degree, board certification, years of experience, employment sector, total compensation (defined as base salary plus bonus), geographic location, race/ethnicity, and sex. The study included a total of 291 respondents for analysis.

Ninety-two percent (n = 267) of the respondents resided in the United States and 90% held a PhD degree. More than half of the respondents were employed in academic, hospital, or healthcare system settings. Among those with board certification, 86% were certified by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry (ABCC). The median total compensation for ABCC board-certified PhD clinical chemists working in the United States (n = 158) was $220 000 to $229 000.

The 2024 survey highlights a continued upward trend in compensation for board-certified PhD clinical chemists, reflecting their expertise and contributions to healthcare. This report serves as a critical resource for professionals to advocate for equitable and competitive compensation as well as benefits that support career advancement and development.