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The differences between histotechnicians and laboratory assistant/phlebotomists 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 laboratory assistant/phlebotomist. Additionally, a histotechnician has an average salary of $49,119, which is higher than the $34,553 average annual salary of a laboratory assistant/phlebotomist.
The top three skills for a histotechnician include ASCP, tissue specimens and CLIA. The most important skills for a laboratory assistant/phlebotomist are patients, blood specimens, and customer service.
| Histotechnician | Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Yearly salary | $49,119 | $34,553 |
| Hourly rate | $23.61 | $16.61 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 42,647 | 74,428 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Associate Degree, 23% |
| 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 laboratory assistant/phlebotomist is responsible for drawing blood samples and other laboratory tests, labeling specimens, and performing administrative and clerical duties as needed. Laboratory assistants/phlebotomists should ensure that the laboratory tools and equipment are stored and secured in a safe area, as well as regularly sterilizing testing tools to avoid contamination upon the use of the patients. They must be highly knowledgeable of the medical procedures and processes, responding to the patients' inquiries and concerns, and providing a timely update of medical results.
Histotechnicians and laboratory assistant/phlebotomists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Histotechnician | Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Average salary | $49,119 | $34,553 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $80,000 | Between $27,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | - |
| Best paying company | Stanford Health Care | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a histotechnician and a laboratory assistant/phlebotomist in terms of educational background:
| Histotechnician | Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Associate Degree, 23% |
| Most common major | Biology | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | New York University | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between histotechnicians' and laboratory assistant/phlebotomists' demographics:
| Histotechnician | Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5% | Male, 17.1% Female, 82.9% |
| 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, 12.0% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |