CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for medical laboratories in Los Angeles, CA
Medical laboratories in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area: 711 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 19-person team.
- Establishments
- 711CBP 2023
- Employees
- 13,768mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 5.5U.S. 4.9
- Rank
- 2nd of 485areas by count
Medical laboratories in Los Angeles, CA by the numbers
There were 711 medical laboratories in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 621511, Medical Laboratories). They employed 13,768 people in mid-March and paid $1.1 billion in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 2nd out of 485 areas with published figures for medical laboratories.
Measured against its 12.9 million residents (2024 estimate), the area has 5.5 medical laboratories per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 4.9, so Los Angeles, CA is 12.4% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 19.4 employees, compared with 14.0 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $82,820, 11.7% above the national $74,156.
| Measure | Los Angeles, CA | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 711 | 1,784 | 16,635 |
| Mid-March employees | 13,768 | 32,649 | 232,333 |
| Annual payroll | $1,140,265,000 | $3,248,131,000 | $17,228,940,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 19.4 | 18.3 | 14.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $82,820 | $99,486 | $74,156 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 5.5 | 4.5 | 4.9 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
How big medical laboratories in Los Angeles, CA are
Of the medical laboratories in Los Angeles, CA that had employees in March 2023, 57.6% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 69.4%). 75.2% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 409 | 57.6% | 69.4% |
| 5–9 employees | 125 | 17.6% | 13.6% |
| 10–19 employees | 88 | 12.4% | 7.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 40 | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| 50 or more employees | 48 | 6.8% | 4.6% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for medical laboratories in Los Angeles, CA
Labs answer calls from both patients and ordering providers, and the questions differ: hours and preparation instructions on one side, specimen and result status on the other. Routing those calls separately keeps both groups from waiting.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for medical laboratories in Los Angeles, CA:
- A provider calls to add a test to an existing order.
- A patient calls to ask about walk-in hours.
- A physician's office calls about a specimen status.
Business texting for medical laboratories
Labs use texting mainly for hours, location and preparation reminders.
Because carriers require registration for business texting from local numbers, Callata files a 10DLC registration for a one-time $49; after approval, anyone on the team can reply from the business number.
Phone system pricing for a 19-person medical laboratory
The average medical laboratory in Los Angeles, CA has 19.4 employees, so a 19-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 19 users would run $570.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $474.05 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $379.00 a month for 19 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $2,292 less than RingCentral for a medical laboratory in Los Angeles, CA of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $379.00 | $4,548.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $361.00 | $4,332.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $437.00 | $5,244.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $474.05 | $5,688.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $513.00 | $6,156.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $570.00 | $6,840.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Which area code to use in Los Angeles, CA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 8 area codes. 323 has the most, with 786 of 5,035 exchanges (16%). A local number lets patients and providers in Los Angeles, CA call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 323 | 786 | Pacific | 1998 | 213, 738 |
| 213 | 780 | Pacific | 1947 | 323, 738 |
| 714 | 777 | Pacific | 1951 | 657 |
| 626 | 722 | Pacific | 1997 | none |
| 657 | 643 | Pacific | 2008 | 714 |
| 562 | 541 | Pacific | 1997 | none |
| 949 | 454 | Pacific | 1998 | none |
| 310 | 332 | Pacific | 1991 | 424 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for medical laboratories
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Los Angeles, CA is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Practices that handle protected health information should review their own privacy obligations before recording calls, enabling AI summaries or texting appointment details, and keep clinical conversations out of text messages unless their policies allow it.
Frequently asked questions
How many medical laboratories are there in Los Angeles, CA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 711 medical laboratories in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area in 2023. They employed 13,768 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 19-person medical laboratory?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 19 users cost $570.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $474.05 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $379.00.
What area code should a medical laboratory in Los Angeles, CA use?
Area code 323 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 213 and 714. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a medical laboratory?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute. Practices that handle protected health information should review their own privacy obligations before recording calls, enabling AI summaries or texting appointment details, and keep clinical conversations out of text messages unless their policies allow it.