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The differences between diagnostic technicians and phlebotomy 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 diagnostic technician, becoming a phlebotomy technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a diagnostic technician has an average salary of $49,571, which is higher than the $34,725 average annual salary of a phlebotomy technician.
The top three skills for a diagnostic technician include patients, patient care and CPR. The most important skills for a phlebotomy technician are patients, infection control, and blood specimens.
| Diagnostic Technician | Phlebotomy Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $49,571 | $34,725 |
| Hourly rate | $23.83 | $16.69 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 70,089 | 107,110 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Associate Degree, 18% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
Diagnostic Technicians are specialists in the inspecting, maintenance, and repair of equipment or service. Diagnostic Technicians can be working in the automotive sector, inspecting and repairing cars, to performing ultrasound procedures in the healthcare industry. Their duties include analyzing and collecting data, calibrating equipment, performing diagnostic tests and repairs, and organizing work records and reports. A Diagnostic Technician must have sound knowledge in using technical equipment and adheres to safety regulations when handling any tools.
A phlebotomy technician is responsible for conducting the medical procedure of drawing blood samples using extraction tools and other equipment. Phlebotomy technicians label the samples for laboratory examinations, donation testing, and other related purposes. They also inspect and maintain the cleanliness of medical equipment, including sterilization of needles and other tools, to avoid contamination that would affect the accuracy of the results. A phlebotomy technician records fluid tests and procedures for reference and patient examination history.
Diagnostic technicians and phlebotomy technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Diagnostic Technician | Phlebotomy Technician | |
| Average salary | $49,571 | $34,725 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $77,000 | Between $26,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fresno, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Waymo | - |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | - |
There are a few differences between a diagnostic technician and a phlebotomy technician in terms of educational background:
| Diagnostic Technician | Phlebotomy Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Associate Degree, 18% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between diagnostic technicians' and phlebotomy technicians' demographics:
| Diagnostic Technician | Phlebotomy Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.0% Female, 34.0% | Male, 16.3% Female, 83.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 73.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |