A side-by-side comparison of salary, job growth, and training to help you choose between becoming a police officer and a medical laboratory technician.
| Police Officer | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| BLS median salary | $77,270 | $61,890 |
| Typical salary range | $77,000-$120,000 | $62,000-$98,000 |
| Job growth (2024–34) | 3% | 2% |
| Time to job-ready | 6 months academy | 2 years (associate) or 4 years (bachelor) |
| Typical training cost | Often paid (earn while you train) | $15,000 |
Police Officer has the higher BLS median wage ($77,270), while Police Officer gets you earning faster (6 months academy). Police Officer has the stronger projected job growth (3% through 2034). Your degree is an advantage in either — use the quiz to see which fits your background, or run both through the ROI calculator against your student loans.
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Median wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). Training costs and timelines are typical estimates. Data last updated June 2026.