Clinical physician assistant vs clinical laboratory scientist

The differences between clinical physician assistants and clinical laboratory scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a clinical physician assistant has an average salary of $145,549, which is higher than the $67,900 average annual salary of a clinical laboratory scientist.

The top three skills for a clinical physician assistant include patients, primary care and medical care. The most important skills for a clinical laboratory scientist are patients, test results, and microbiology.

Clinical physician assistant vs clinical laboratory scientist overview

	Clinical Physician Assistant	Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Yearly salary	$145,549	$67,900
Hourly rate	$69.98	$32.64
Growth rate	28%	17%
Number of jobs	94,210	133,838
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age	39	44
Years of experience	-	2

What does a clinical physician assistant do?

A clinical physician assistant is in charge of performing support tasks in clinics, hospitals, and similar establishments. Typically serving as the patients' first point of contact, it is their responsibility to gather the personal and medical information of patients, identify their needs, answer inquiries, and escort them to offices and other rooms. They may also perform clerical tasks such as answering calls and correspondence, arranging appointments, preparing and filing documentation, and coordinating with other offices. Moreover, a clinical physician assistant must maintain an active communication line with physicians and nurses, assisting them as needed.

What does a clinical laboratory scientist do?

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.

Clinical physician assistant vs clinical laboratory scientist salary

Clinical physician assistants and clinical laboratory scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Clinical Physician Assistant	Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Average salary	$145,549	$67,900
Salary range	Between $84,000 And $252,000	Between $46,000 And $99,000
Highest paying City	Duluth, MN	Santa Rosa, CA
Highest paying state	Minnesota	Alaska
Best paying company	Central Ohio Primary Care	Westpac
Best paying industry	Non Profits	Health Care

Differences between clinical physician assistant and clinical laboratory scientist education

There are a few differences between a clinical physician assistant and a clinical laboratory scientist in terms of educational background:

	Clinical Physician Assistant	Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common major	Physician Assistant	Medical Technician
Most common college	Duke University	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Clinical physician assistant vs clinical laboratory scientist demographics

Here are the differences between clinical physician assistants' and clinical laboratory scientists' demographics:

	Clinical Physician Assistant	Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Average age	39	44
Gender ratio	Male, 38.0% Female, 62.0%	Male, 34.8% Female, 65.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 11.5% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	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%
LGBT Percentage	12%	8%

Differences between clinical physician assistant and clinical laboratory scientist duties and responsibilities

Clinical physician assistant example responsibilities.

Implement and manage cardiology internship college course.
Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
Complete nursing assessments, complete care plans, perform ADL's, utilize lifts, alarms and transfer patients safely.
Care for multiple patients in a fast pace setting and provide total care including all treatments, medications and ADL's.
Perform tracheostomy care and suctioning for ventilator dependent patients.
Provide physical therapy services in the inpatient rehabilitation unit and oncology floor.

Clinical laboratory scientist example responsibilities.

Analyze specimens in hematology, coagulation, urinalysis, chemistry, toxicology, blood bank, and limit microbiology and serology.
Perform testing on donor and patient samples on platforms using methodologies including EIA, CLIA, and NAT (PCR).
Perform patient blood analysis, interpret serology, immunology and flowcytometry results.
Provide phlebotomy, specimen processing and laboratory testing for clinical trial studies.
Analyze specimens in areas of hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, and clinical chemistry within time constraints in a high-volume environment.
Perform microbiology, mycology and bacteriology

Clinical physician assistant vs clinical laboratory scientist skills

Common clinical physician assistant skills

Patients, 30%
Primary Care, 6%
Medical Care, 6%
Family Medicine, 5%
Urgent Care, 5%
Diagnostic Tests, 4%

Common clinical laboratory scientist skills

Patients, 12%
Test Results, 8%
Microbiology, 7%
CLS, 7%
Hematology, 6%
ASCP, 6%

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Clinical Physician Assistant
Clinical Physician Assistant vs Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Updated January 8, 2025

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