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The differences between cell technicians and microbiologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a cell technician, becoming a microbiologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a microbiologist has an average salary of $54,620, which is higher than the $51,227 average annual salary of a cell technician.
The top three skills for a cell technician include harvest, CIP and cell culture. The most important skills for a microbiologist are lab equipment, microbiology lab, and environmental monitoring.
| Cell Technician | Microbiologist | |
| Yearly salary | $51,227 | $54,620 |
| Hourly rate | $24.63 | $26.26 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 18,729 | 11,444 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
Cell tower technicians are responsible for maintaining cell phone towers and keeping them in good working condition. They make sure that cell phones are receiving signals all the time without any lag or problem and that customers always have full bars. Their duties include repairing and restoring old materials and equipment, assessing functionality, building, returning, and setting up new towers, as well as consistent servicing and maintenance. Technician applicants are required to have a degree in electronics telecommunications and undergo job and safety training.
Microbiologists are responsible for studying the microscopic organisms causing infections and environmental damage, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Their work focuses on the identification and growth of these microbes to better understand their characteristics that may help in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious and bacterial diseases. They use sophisticated technologies and machinery to study microbes and perform their tasks. These scientists are also responsible for developing best practices and techniques for routine sampling and research. Microbiologists may work in various settings, including laboratories, research institutes, and hospitals.
Cell technicians and microbiologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cell Technician | Microbiologist | |
| Average salary | $51,227 | $54,620 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $79,000 | Between $39,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | General Motors | Battelle |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a cell technician and a microbiologist in terms of educational background:
| Cell Technician | Microbiologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between cell technicians' and microbiologists' demographics:
| Cell Technician | Microbiologist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.3% Female, 23.7% | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 12.7% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% | Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 13.6% White, 69.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 10% |