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The differences between blood bank technicians and laboratory assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a blood bank technician and a laboratory assistant. Additionally, a blood bank technician has an average salary of $53,664, which is higher than the $34,168 average annual salary of a laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a blood bank technician include blood bank, clinical laboratory and patients. The most important skills for a laboratory assistant are patients, phlebotomy, and customer service.
| Blood Bank Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $53,664 | $34,168 |
| Hourly rate | $25.80 | $16.43 |
| Growth rate | - | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 54,130 | 50,853 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A blood bank technician is typically a trained phlebotomist who works with donors and patients on a daily basis. They are primarily in charge of collecting blood and other components, labeling and storing them according to protocols, and preparing them for transfusion. They also work at laboratories to test and analyze different samples, assess potential donors, and maintain extensive records. Moreover, a blood bank technician assists donors or patients by answering inquiries, providing instructions, and helping them be at ease during the procedure.
Laboratory assistants work for researchers, scientists, or professors in the laboratory setting. They are expected to have a solid background in the field of study of the laboratory they are assigned to. They do a variety of tasks in the laboratory, such as setting up equipment, observing experiments, analyzing results, creating reports, and recommending improvements to the testing. They may also be assigned to clean and sanitize laboratory equipment as needed. Laboratory assistants should have good research skills, analytical skills, and organizational skills.
Blood bank technicians and laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Blood Bank Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $53,664 | $34,168 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $72,000 | Between $26,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | First Republic Bank | UST Global |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a blood bank technician and a laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Blood Bank Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | New York University |
Here are the differences between blood bank technicians' and laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Blood Bank Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.4% Female, 66.6% | Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 13.9% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |