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The differences between clinical laboratory scientists and clinical laboratory assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a clinical laboratory scientist, becoming a clinical laboratory assistant takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a clinical laboratory scientist has an average salary of $67,900, which is higher than the $32,679 average annual salary of a clinical laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a clinical laboratory scientist include patients, test results and microbiology. The most important skills for a clinical laboratory assistant are patients, phlebotomy, and clinical lab.
| Clinical Laboratory Scientist | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $67,900 | $32,679 |
| Hourly rate | $32.64 | $15.71 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 133,838 | 108,124 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A Clinical Laboratory Scientist is responsible for performing laboratory tests that doctors count on to correctly diagnose and treat patients. They examine body fluids, tissues, and cells, identify infective microorganisms, and analyze the chemical constituents of body fluids.
A clinical laboratory assistant specializes in performing support tasks in a laboratory or similar setting using their in-depth knowledge. They are primarily responsible for assisting researchers, preparing samples and apparatus, conducting experiments and analysis, maintaining extensive documentation of all processes and results, and reporting to management. Moreover, a clinical laboratory assistant is also responsible for gathering necessary information before beginning studies and maintaining the laboratory's cleanliness and sanitation. It is vital to implement all the safety rules and regulations to ensure a safe and productive work environment.
Clinical laboratory scientists and clinical laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Laboratory Scientist | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $67,900 | $32,679 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $99,000 | Between $26,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Westpac | Roswell Park |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a clinical laboratory scientist and a clinical laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Laboratory Scientist | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Biology |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | New York University |
Here are the differences between clinical laboratory scientists' and clinical laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Clinical Laboratory Scientist | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.8% Female, 65.2% | Male, 25.4% Female, 74.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 15.4% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.1% White, 54.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |