text: 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.\nLab technicians make much less, generally $25,000 - $35,000 per year to start.\nBiologists and biochemists probably make about $40,000 per year to start.