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Histologic technician vs clinical laboratory scientist

The differences between histologic technicians and clinical laboratory scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a histologic technician and a clinical laboratory scientist. Additionally, a clinical laboratory scientist has an average salary of $67,900, which is higher than the $49,962 average annual salary of a histologic technician.

The top three skills for a histologic technician include ASCP, patients and tissue specimens. The most important skills for a clinical laboratory scientist are patients, test results, and microbiology.

Histologic technician vs clinical laboratory scientist overview

Histologic TechnicianClinical Laboratory Scientist
Yearly salary$49,962$67,900
Hourly rate$24.02$32.64
Growth rate-17%
Number of jobs6,785133,838
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a histologic technician do?

A Histologic Technician prepares tissue specimens for routine and special procedures to confirm a patient diagnosis. They work in hospital laboratories, government agencies, public health departments, and other institutions.

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.

Histologic technician vs clinical laboratory scientist salary

Histologic technicians and clinical laboratory scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Histologic TechnicianClinical Laboratory Scientist
Average salary$49,962$67,900
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $75,000Between $46,000 And $99,000
Highest paying CitySacramento, CASanta Rosa, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyBattelleWestpac
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between histologic technician and clinical laboratory scientist education

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

Histologic TechnicianClinical Laboratory Scientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common majorBiologyMedical Technician
Most common collegeStanford UniversityUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Histologic technician vs clinical laboratory scientist demographics

Here are the differences between histologic technicians' and clinical laboratory scientists' demographics:

Histologic TechnicianClinical Laboratory Scientist
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 30.4% Female, 69.6%Male, 34.8% Female, 65.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%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 Percentage8%8%

Differences between histologic technician and clinical laboratory scientist duties and responsibilities

Histologic technician example responsibilities.

  • Perform routine histology/cytology procedures and IHC and manage 7-20 staff members.
  • Develop and implement health and safety protocols and procedures in accordance with CLIA and OSHA regulations
  • Develop a higher grade eosin for stainline.
  • Enter patient specimens into the EMR system/file patient records.
  • Cut all control slides for research and run all immunofluorescence slides.
  • Perform processing, embedding, microtomy, cryostating, routine and special stains.
  • Show more

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
  • Show more

Histologic technician vs clinical laboratory scientist skills

Common histologic technician skills
  • ASCP, 15%
  • Patients, 12%
  • Tissue Specimens, 5%
  • CLIA, 4%
  • IHC, 4%
  • Sectioning, 4%
Common clinical laboratory scientist skills
  • Patients, 12%
  • Test Results, 8%
  • Microbiology, 7%
  • CLS, 7%
  • Hematology, 6%
  • ASCP, 6%

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