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The differences between histotechnicians and clinical laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a histotechnician and a clinical laboratory technician. Additionally, a clinical laboratory technician has an average salary of $50,756, which is higher than the $49,119 average annual salary of a histotechnician.
The top three skills for a histotechnician include ASCP, tissue specimens and CLIA. The most important skills for a clinical laboratory technician are patients, test results, and patient care.
| Histotechnician | Clinical Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $49,119 | $50,756 |
| Hourly rate | $23.61 | $24.40 |
| Growth rate | 17% | - |
| Number of jobs | 42,647 | 119,050 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Histotechnicians are clinical laboratory technicians who prepare thin body tissue samples by pathologists. The majority of the technicians work in hospitals or libraries. Among the duties they perform include special stains, filling slides and blocks, send-outs, and re-cuts. They execute routine and complex non-routine special stains like tissue and specimen cutting and embedding. It is also their responsibility to execute routine maintenance and calibrations of microscopes, automated slide strainers, and microtomes.
A clinical laboratory technician typically works under the direction of a physician or medical technologist to perform tests that will aid in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions and illnesses. You will perform various duties, including preparing samples for analysis, monitoring tests and procedures, and matching blood for transfusion. Additionally, you are expected to participate in staff training and educational opportunities and contribute to a secure and safe environment for patients, physicians, co-workers, and visitors. This role will also require ensuring that laboratory information remains confidential.
Histotechnicians and clinical laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Histotechnician | Clinical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $49,119 | $50,756 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $80,000 | Between $36,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Stockton, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Stanford Health Care | Claxton Hepburn |
| Best paying industry | - | Media |
There are a few differences between a histotechnician and a clinical laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Histotechnician | Clinical Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | New York University |
Here are the differences between histotechnicians' and clinical laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Histotechnician | Clinical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5% | Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 12.9% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |