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Hire a Lab Director or Lab Manager in Maryland (Baltimore, Bethesda, Rockville, Annapolis, Frederick)
Updated November 4, 2026
Maryland labs hiring a lab manager or director can budget against BLS figures: the May 2025 Maryland median for medical and health services managers was $131,810. Maryland's permit rules go further than CLIA, including a monthly director onsite visit. SLC can cover director, technical consultant and compliance oversight, with the required onsite visits.
Maryland pay benchmarks (BLS, May 2025)
Medical and health services managers: Maryland median $131,810, Maryland mean $148,720 (U.S. median $123,860).
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians: Maryland median $63,690, Maryland mean $66,280 (U.S. median $62,930).
Maryland lab leadership postings in fall 2026 include hospital core lab managers, a histology and molecular lab manager, a clinical lab manager overseeing chemistry, hematology and molecular testing, and an academic hospital pathology lab manager. Most ask for a bachelor's degree in medical technology or a related science, MLS/MT certification, and three to seven years of clinical lab experience with supervisory time. Smaller labs and physician offices often post a "manager" role when what they need first is a qualified director and supervisor coverage.
Maryland requirements
Who oversees labs: The Maryland Department of Health, Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ), licenses and permits medical laboratories under COMAR Title 10, Subtitle 10. Federal CLIA certification still applies, and a CMS-116 goes in with the state application when the CLIA certificate status changes.
Who can be the director: For a permitted lab other than a physician office lab (POL), COMAR 10.10.07.04 requires a director who meets the CLIA high complexity director standards in 42 CFR 493.1443 and carries out the duties in 493.1407 and 493.1445. For a POL, COMAR 10.10.07.01 allows a physician licensed by the Maryland Board of Physicians who is a member or employee of the practice, or an employee or contractor with the training and experience set out in the chapter. The OHCQ application asks for the director's CV, highest degree and any board certification, and for moderate complexity labs, board certification or documentation of 20 CME hours.
Director presence: Maryland requires the director to communicate with the lab's supervisory personnel at least once a month and to conduct an onsite visit at least once a month. That is more often than the federal CLIA minimum of every 6 months.
Associate director: The director must designate a qualified associate or substitute director when the director will be away for more than 30 days or cannot carry out the director's responsibilities.
Changes and limits: A Maryland director may not serve as director or associate director of more than five medical laboratories at the same time. For POLs, the director must notify OHCQ within 30 days of any change in the director's service, and the director signs the license application attesting the lab will be run to the chapter's standards (COMAR 10.10.03.04).
Hiring checklist for Maryland labs
Confirm your CLIA certificate type, test complexity, and OHCQ permit or license type.
Check that your director candidate meets the Maryland standard for your lab type (POL or other permitted lab).
Plan a director onsite visit every month and a monthly check-in with supervisory staff.
Name a qualified associate director for absences over 30 days.
Notify OHCQ promptly when the director changes.
Set pay against Maryland benchmarks for your metro.
Plan director and technical consultant coverage during the vacancy.
Director oversight for Maryland labs
Under 42 CFR 493.1407(c) (moderate complexity) and 493.1445(c) (high complexity), the laboratory director must be onsite at least once every 6 months, with at least 4 months between the two minimum visits, and must stay accessible to the lab for telephone or electronic consultation as needed. The director is responsible for the overall operation and administration of the lab, and stays responsible for every duty they delegate. Under CLIA, one person may direct no more than five laboratories (§ 493.1407(d), § 493.1445(d)). Maryland adds a monthly onsite visit and monthly supervisory communication on top. Remote oversight does not replace the supervisors, testing personnel, or other people your lab is required to have physically present.
SLC serves Maryland as part of its nationwide network, from Baltimore and Annapolis to the Washington suburbs and Frederick. See lab consultant Maryland and Maryland CLIA lab requirements.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lab manager make in Maryland?
BLS publishes state figures. Maryland medical and health services managers had a May 2025 median of $131,810 and a mean of $148,720. Pay varies by metro and lab type.
Who can be a laboratory director in Maryland?
For permitted labs other than physician office labs, the director must meet the CLIA high complexity director qualifications in 42 CFR 493.1443. A physician office lab can be directed by a Maryland-licensed physician of the practice, or by an employee or contractor with the training and experience the regulations require.
How often must a Maryland lab director be onsite?
At least once a month, plus monthly communication with the lab's supervisory staff. That is stricter than the CLIA minimum of every 6 months.
How many labs can one director oversee in Maryland?
No more than five medical laboratories at the same time, counting both director and associate director roles.
What happens if our lab director leaves or is away?
A qualified associate director must act when the director is away more than 30 days. For physician office labs, OHCQ must be notified within 30 days of a change in the director's service.
Does SLC have a Maryland office?
No. SLC is a nationwide network with no physical office. We work remotely and make onsite visits as required.
What does SLC charge?
Plans from $500. Book a consultation to scope your lab.
Related SLC pages
Talk to SLC about your lab
Tell us what the role was supposed to cover and we'll map it to lab director, technical consultant, and compliance oversight services. Plans from $500.
Sources (verified 2026-11-04): COMAR 10.10.07.04 · COMAR 10.10.07.01 · COMAR 10.10.03.04 · OHCQ State Compliance Application instructions (04/23/2026) · 42 CFR 493.1407 · 42 CFR 493.1445 · BLS OEWS Maryland (API pull 2026-11-04: OEUS2400000000000119111 13/04 = 131,810/148,720; 292010 13/04 = 63,690/66,280) · CMS CLIA program
Sound Lab Consultants (SLC) is a nationwide laboratory consulting network with no physical office. Mailing address: PO Box 2135, Chandler, AZ 85244. Email: info@soundlabconsult.com.