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The differences between chemical laboratory technicians and medical 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 chemical laboratory technician, becoming a medical laboratory technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a medical laboratory technician has an average salary of $51,780, which is higher than the $41,087 average annual salary of a chemical laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a chemical laboratory technician include lab equipment, routine maintenance and chemical analysis. The most important skills for a medical laboratory technician are medical laboratory, patients, and ASCP.
| Chemical Laboratory Technician | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $41,087 | $51,780 |
| Hourly rate | $19.75 | $24.89 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 47,036 | 88,721 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Associate Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A chemical laboratory technician is in charge of performing support tasks for chemists in a laboratory or similar setting. Their duties and responsibilities typically revolve around handling and managing chemicals and laboratory apparatuses, gathering and preparing samples, performing analysis, operating machines and devices, and maintaining records of all procedures and results. They may also procure supplies, organize chemicals, and ensure proper waste disposal. Furthermore, as a chemical laboratory technician, it is essential to maintain the cleanliness and order in laboratories, all while implementing its policies and regulations.
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.
Chemical laboratory technicians and medical laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chemical Laboratory Technician | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $41,087 | $51,780 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $51,000 | Between $37,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Albuquerque, NM | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Basin Electric Power Cooperative | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a chemical laboratory technician and a medical laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Chemical Laboratory Technician | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Associate Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Maryland - College Park |
Here are the differences between chemical laboratory technicians' and medical laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Chemical Laboratory Technician | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 60.8% Female, 39.2% | Male, 29.3% Female, 70.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 8.4% White, 62.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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 | 9% | 8% |