Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between accessioners and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an accessioner and a certified medical technician. Additionally, a certified medical technician has an average salary of $38,859, which is higher than the $32,627 average annual salary of an accessioner.
The top three skills for an accessioner include laboratory specimens, laboratory analysis and lab tests. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.
| Accessioner | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $32,627 | $38,859 |
| Hourly rate | $15.69 | $18.68 |
| Growth rate | - | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 59,541 | 164,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
An accessioner works at laboratories where they are primarily in charge of managing and organizing specimens, assisting scientists as needed. Their responsibilities include receiving and verifying samples, labeling and preparing specimens according to its purpose, updating databases, disposing of waste properly, and examining samples for any contamination. They may also answer client and staff inquiries, providing them with accurate information such as timelines and results. Furthermore, as an accessioner, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff and adhere to the laboratory's rules and regulations to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
Certified Medical Technicians are specialists in medical diagnoses by performing laboratory testing and analysis for hospitals and physicians. Their duties include lab sanitization to prepare for testing and collection, recording medical samples for testing, specimen preparation, blood drawing for donation and testing, and assisting physicians with sample collection as well as equipment handling in surgical rooms. They must also understand how to use complex and sensitive testing equipment such as cell counters, analyzers, microscopes, and centrifuges.
Accessioners and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Accessioner | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Average salary | $32,627 | $38,859 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $45,000 | Between $28,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | Denton, TX |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Zoetis | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an accessioner and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:
| Accessioner | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Most common major | Biology | Nursing |
| Most common college | New York University | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between accessioners' and certified medical technicians' demographics:
| Accessioner | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.6% Female, 74.4% | Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 11.8% White, 53.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 15.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 10.0% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |