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The differences between clinical laboratory scientists and pathologists 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 pathologist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a clinical laboratory scientist has an average salary of $67,900, which is higher than the $61,808 average annual salary of a pathologist.
The top three skills for a clinical laboratory scientist include patients, test results and microbiology. The most important skills for a pathologist are patients, patient care, and diagnosis.
| Clinical Laboratory Scientist | Pathologist | |
| Yearly salary | $67,900 | $61,808 |
| Hourly rate | $32.64 | $29.72 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 133,838 | 20,340 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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.
Pathologists are medical healthcare professionals who are responsible for conducting examinations of bodies and body tissues. These pathologists must perform laboratory tests of body fluids and tissues to help primary care doctors make a diagnosis about the health of patients who are with chronic conditions. They specialize in genetic testing that will examine a tissue biopsy to determine whether a tumor is benign or cancerous. Pathologists must also perform autopsies to inform family members of the deceased about the cause of death and help them take preventive action for their own health.
Clinical laboratory scientists and pathologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Laboratory Scientist | Pathologist | |
| Average salary | $67,900 | $61,808 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $99,000 | Between $25,000 And $148,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Westpac | UT Medical Group, Inc. |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a clinical laboratory scientist and a pathologist in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Laboratory Scientist | Pathologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Physiology And Anatomy |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between clinical laboratory scientists' and pathologists' demographics:
| Clinical Laboratory Scientist | Pathologist | |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.8% Female, 65.2% | Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3% |
| 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, 5.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 20.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 13% |