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The differences between blood bank technicians and medical laboratory technicians 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 medical laboratory technician. Additionally, a blood bank technician has an average salary of $53,664, which is higher than the $51,780 average annual salary of a medical laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a blood bank technician include blood bank, clinical laboratory and patients. The most important skills for a medical laboratory technician are medical laboratory, patients, and ASCP.
| Blood Bank Technician | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $53,664 | $51,780 |
| Hourly rate | $25.80 | $24.89 |
| Growth rate | - | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 54,130 | 88,721 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Associate Degree, 55% |
| 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.
A medical laboratory technician is responsible for assisting medical health professionals in conducting laboratory tests to diagnose patients' conditions and provide treatments. Medical laboratory technicians ensure the sanitation of all the tools and equipment before conducting tests. They collect adequate blood samples and specimens, analyze fluid elements, utilize laboratory equipment safely, create reports of findings, and alert medical personnel and medical technologists of emergency conditions. A medical laboratory technician must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry disciplines and processes to perform sensitive tasks and release accurate medical results.
Blood bank technicians and medical laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Blood Bank Technician | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $53,664 | $51,780 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $72,000 | Between $37,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Alaska |
| Best paying company | First Republic Bank | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a blood bank technician and a medical laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Blood Bank Technician | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Associate Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science |
| Most common college | New York University | University of Maryland - College Park |
Here are the differences between blood bank technicians' and medical laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Blood Bank Technician | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.4% Female, 66.6% | Male, 29.3% Female, 70.7% |
| 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, 11.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |