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The differences between cath laboratory radiological technologists and laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a cath laboratory radiological technologist, becoming a laboratory technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a cath laboratory radiological technologist has an average salary of $60,648, which is higher than the $40,038 average annual salary of a laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a cath laboratory radiological technologist include BLS, cath lab and acls. The most important skills for a laboratory technician are patients, lab equipment, and customer service.
| Cath Laboratory Radiological Technologist | Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $60,648 | $40,038 |
| Hourly rate | $29.16 | $19.25 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 90,180 | 84,357 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A cath laboratory radiological technologist specializes in operating imaging equipment such as X-ray, MRI, and CT scanners to help physicians in diagnosing and treating health issues among patients. They produce diagnostic images according to protocols, submitting them to the physicians timely and accurately. They are also responsible for assisting patients by preparing them before the procedure, answering inquiries, briefing them on how they would feel during the process, providing step-by-step instructions, and making them feel at ease throughout the test.
Laboratory technicians are medical professionals who work in the laboratory. They are responsible for the equipment in the laboratory, making sure tools are properly sanitized and sterilized after every use. They also ensure that laboratory equipment works well. Laboratory technicians may also be responsible for collecting and testing samples from patients. They prepare solutions and other chemicals that may be needed for testing. They also provide an analysis of the samples that they tested. Laboratory technicians ensure that all items in the laboratory are properly labeled and organized.
Cath laboratory radiological technologists and laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cath Laboratory Radiological Technologist | Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $60,648 | $40,038 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $126,000 | Between $27,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Modesto, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Accountable Healthcare Holdings Corp. | Tenaska |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a cath laboratory radiological technologist and a laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Cath Laboratory Radiological Technologist | Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Biology |
| Most common college | Texas A&M University | New York University |
Here are the differences between cath laboratory radiological technologists' and laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Cath Laboratory Radiological Technologist | Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5% | Male, 53.3% Female, 46.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 73.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |