Food safety scientist vs certified medical technician

The differences between food safety scientists and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a food safety scientist, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a food safety scientist has an average salary of $80,238, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a food safety scientist include safety data, safety issues and drug safety. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Food safety scientist vs certified medical technician overview

	Food Safety Scientist	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$80,238	$38,859
Hourly rate	$38.58	$18.68
Growth rate	8%	5%
Number of jobs	106,128	164,424
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	40	44
Years of experience	4	12

What does a food safety scientist do?

A food safety scientist's responsibility is to improve food quality and packaging and to create new food products by developing excellent processing, storage, and transportation procedures with proper compliance with the health and safety standards. He/she is skilled at analyzing the nutritional food content, discovering new food sources, and researching safe and healthy food processing. In addition, this food scientist studies the microbiological, chemical, and physical properties of food and ingredients to ensure its safety for consumers.

What does a certified medical technician do?

Certified Medical Technicians are specialists in medical diagnoses by performing laboratory testing and analysis for hospitals and physicians. Their duties include lab sanitization to prepare for testing and collection, recording medical samples for testing, specimen preparation, blood drawing for donation and testing, and assisting physicians with sample collection as well as equipment handling in surgical rooms. They must also understand how to use complex and sensitive testing equipment such as cell counters, analyzers, microscopes, and centrifuges.

Food safety scientist vs certified medical technician salary

Food safety scientists and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Food Safety Scientist	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$80,238	$38,859
Salary range	Between $48,000 And $132,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	California	Alaska
Best paying company	Genentech	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between food safety scientist and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between a food safety scientist and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

	Food Safety Scientist	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Biology	Nursing
Most common college	Cornell University	University of Connecticut

Food safety scientist vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between food safety scientists' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

	Food Safety Scientist	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	40	44
Gender ratio	Male, 32.1% Female, 67.9%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 12.3% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 15.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 10.0% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	19%	8%

Differences between food safety scientist and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Food safety scientist example responsibilities.

Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
Draft letters to the FDA and license partners regarding evaluation and reporting of adverse event reports.
Develop complete responses to FDA inquiries regarding investigational and market product safety which present accurate benefit-risk information and support company initiatives.
Used quantitative western blot to support selection of biomarkers specific to human dehydration.
Utilize FACS to study enrichment module separation efficiency and test various biomarkers by fluorescent imaging.
Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.

Certified medical technician example responsibilities.

Maintain the cleanliness of storage areas, trays, centrifuges, refrigerators, freezers and work area.
Administer medications to patients according to their medication record as scheduled, as needed according to physician orders.
Perform laboratory test and procedures in areas including chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, serology, and bacteriology.
Perform first aid and apply CPR when necessary.
Perform first aid or CPR during medical emergencies until paramedics arrive.
Assist the residents in their ADL needs and prepare their meals.

Food safety scientist vs certified medical technician skills

Common food safety scientist skills

Safety Data, 13%
Safety Issues, 12%
Drug Safety, 10%
FDA, 8%
Study Reports, 7%
Food Safety, 7%

Common certified medical technician skills

Patients, 17%
Vital Signs, 12%
CPR, 8%
Administer Medications, 7%
Resident Care, 6%
HIPAA, 6%

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Food Safety Scientist vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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