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The differences between certified medical technicians and laboratory assistant/phlebotomists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a certified medical technician and a laboratory assistant/phlebotomist. Additionally, a certified medical technician has an average salary of $38,859, which is higher than the $34,553 average annual salary of a laboratory assistant/phlebotomist.
The top three skills for a certified medical technician include patients, vital signs and CPR. The most important skills for a laboratory assistant/phlebotomist are patients, blood specimens, and customer service.
| Certified Medical Technician | Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Yearly salary | $38,859 | $34,553 |
| Hourly rate | $18.68 | $16.61 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 164,424 | 74,428 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 28% | Associate Degree, 23% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Certified Medical Technicians are specialists in medical diagnoses by performing laboratory testing and analysis for hospitals and physicians. Their duties include lab sanitization to prepare for testing and collection, recording medical samples for testing, specimen preparation, blood drawing for donation and testing, and assisting physicians with sample collection as well as equipment handling in surgical rooms. They must also understand how to use complex and sensitive testing equipment such as cell counters, analyzers, microscopes, and centrifuges.
A laboratory assistant/phlebotomist is responsible for drawing blood samples and other laboratory tests, labeling specimens, and performing administrative and clerical duties as needed. Laboratory assistants/phlebotomists should ensure that the laboratory tools and equipment are stored and secured in a safe area, as well as regularly sterilizing testing tools to avoid contamination upon the use of the patients. They must be highly knowledgeable of the medical procedures and processes, responding to the patients' inquiries and concerns, and providing a timely update of medical results.
Certified medical technicians and laboratory assistant/phlebotomists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Certified Medical Technician | Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Average salary | $38,859 | $34,553 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $53,000 | Between $27,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Denton, TX | - |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | - |
| Best paying company | Favorite Healthcare Staffing | - |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a certified medical technician and a laboratory assistant/phlebotomist in terms of educational background:
| Certified Medical Technician | Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 28% | Associate Degree, 23% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | University of Connecticut | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between certified medical technicians' and laboratory assistant/phlebotomists' demographics:
| Certified Medical Technician | Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6% | Male, 17.1% Female, 82.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 15.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 10.0% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |