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Histopathology technician vs laboratory assistant

The differences between histopathology technicians and laboratory assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a histopathology technician and a laboratory assistant. Additionally, a histopathology technician has an average salary of $59,825, which is higher than the $34,168 average annual salary of a laboratory assistant.

The top three skills for a histopathology technician include laboratory equipment, laboratory results and anatomic pathology. The most important skills for a laboratory assistant are patients, phlebotomy, and customer service.

Histopathology technician vs laboratory assistant overview

Histopathology TechnicianLaboratory Assistant
Yearly salary$59,825$34,168
Hourly rate$28.76$16.43
Growth rate17%9%
Number of jobs18,82550,853
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4444
Years of experience1212

Histopathology technician vs laboratory assistant salary

Histopathology technicians and laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Histopathology TechnicianLaboratory Assistant
Average salary$59,825$34,168
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $99,000Between $26,000 And $44,000
Highest paying CityLebanon, PABoston, MA
Highest paying stateAlaskaMassachusetts
Best paying companyZoetisUST Global
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between histopathology technician and laboratory assistant education

There are a few differences between a histopathology technician and a laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:

Histopathology TechnicianLaboratory Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeNew York UniversityNew York University

Histopathology technician vs laboratory assistant demographics

Here are the differences between histopathology technicians' and laboratory assistants' demographics:

Histopathology TechnicianLaboratory Assistant
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 41.9% Female, 58.1%Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 13.9% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between histopathology technician and laboratory assistant duties and responsibilities

Histopathology technician example responsibilities.

  • Recognize & investigate instrument malfunctions, perform calibrations, manage QC, and maintain comprehensive written records of tests & procedures.
  • Validate and optimize antibody for clinical immunohistochemistry assay.
  • Prepare cell block from urine, bronchial brushing, washing, FNA slide preparation.
  • Validate and optimize antibody for clinical immunohistochemistry assay.

Laboratory assistant example responsibilities.

  • Comfort frighten patients and maintain an exceptionally bright professional demeanor to accomplish a procedure that makes most people very uncomfortable.
  • Maintain and QC check laboratory equipment.
  • Preform laboratory duties using microscopes, centrifuges and a host of other laboratory equipment.
  • Provide excellent customer service to patients while accurately updating patient demographics, insurance and billing information in LabCorp LCM program.
  • Provide continuing education in the form of periodic in-services relating the phlebotomy procedures, tests and proper specimen collection requirements.
  • Process eyewear to meet national ANSII and OSHA standards.
  • Show more

Histopathology technician vs laboratory assistant skills

Common histopathology technician skills
  • Laboratory Equipment, 15%
  • Laboratory Results, 12%
  • Anatomic Pathology, 11%
  • Troubleshoot, 8%
  • Sectioning, 6%
  • Tissue Samples, 6%
Common laboratory assistant skills
  • Patients, 15%
  • Phlebotomy, 12%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Lab Procedures, 5%
  • Specimen Collection, 5%
  • Patient Care, 5%

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