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Biotechnologist vs medical technologist

The differences between biotechnologists and medical technologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a biotechnologist, becoming a medical technologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a biotechnologist has an average salary of $54,160, which is higher than the $53,249 average annual salary of a medical technologist.

The top three skills for a biotechnologist include R, GMP and DNA. The most important skills for a medical technologist are patients, clinical laboratory, and ASCP.

Biotechnologist vs medical technologist overview

BiotechnologistMedical Technologist
Yearly salary$54,160$53,249
Hourly rate$26.04$25.60
Growth rate9%-
Number of jobs10,862116,495
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4044
Years of experience42

Biotechnologist vs medical technologist salary

Biotechnologists and medical technologists have different pay scales, as shown below.

BiotechnologistMedical Technologist
Average salary$54,160$53,249
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $80,000Between $41,000 And $68,000
Highest paying CitySilver Spring, MDSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateConnecticutAlaska
Best paying companyAbbVieChildren's Hospital Colorado
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between biotechnologist and medical technologist education

There are a few differences between a biotechnologist and a medical technologist in terms of educational background:

BiotechnologistMedical Technologist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorBiologyMedical Technician
Most common collegeJohns Hopkins UniversityUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Biotechnologist vs medical technologist demographics

Here are the differences between biotechnologists' and medical technologists' demographics:

BiotechnologistMedical Technologist
Average age4044
Gender ratioMale, 55.1% Female, 44.9%Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 13.5% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage6%8%

Differences between biotechnologist and medical technologist duties and responsibilities

Biotechnologist example responsibilities.

  • Manage laboratories and perform clinical research in diabetic and thyroid disease states.
  • Perform standard PCR assays for research group.
  • Purify enzymes using gravity, low pressure liquid chromatography, and AKTA FPLC.
  • Participate in semi-annual proficiency testing for forensic casework (CTS) and proficiency testing for engraftment monitoring (ASHI).
  • Quantify the final product form using solvent extraction and normal phase HPLC.
  • Maintain documentation and batch records in accordance with ISO and CE-IVD regulations.
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Medical technologist example responsibilities.

  • Manage departmental recovery activities after installation of upgrades affecting the LIS affect.
  • Perform medical/laboratory procedures in all departments including microbiology, chemistry, blood bank, hematology, urinalysis, and immunology.
  • Perform laboratory test to corporal fluids applying analysis fields like biochemistry, microbiology, hematology, immunology, urinalysis and blood bank
  • Execute and analyze laboratory test in biochemistry, urinalysis, hematology, microbiology, blood bank and serology department.
  • Direct participation on proficiency testing programs on hematology, chemistry, urinalysis, blood bank, serology, and bacteriology.
  • Work full-time as an evening/night shift generalist rotating through hematology, urinalysis, serology, chemistry, blood bank and microbiology.
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Biotechnologist vs medical technologist skills

Common biotechnologist skills
  • R, 23%
  • GMP, 13%
  • DNA, 13%
  • PCR, 12%
  • Assays, 10%
  • Extraction, 10%
Common medical technologist skills
  • Patients, 10%
  • Clinical Laboratory, 8%
  • ASCP, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Microbiology, 4%

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