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The differences between histotechnicians and med technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a histotechnician has an average salary of $49,119, which is higher than the $44,523 average annual salary of a med technician.
The top three skills for a histotechnician include ASCP, tissue specimens and CLIA. The most important skills for a med technician are patients, med-tech, and cleanliness.
| Histotechnician | Med Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $49,119 | $44,523 |
| Hourly rate | $23.61 | $21.41 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 42,647 | 141,154 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Average age | 44 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 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.
Typically working in hospitals or private clinics, a med technician specializes in collecting blood or bodily fluids and analyzing them through laboratory tests. The results of these tests will be a vital factor in diagnosing a patient's condition and what treatment a physician should give. Moreover, a med technician is also responsible for producing accurate reports, reviewing data, coordinating with physicians and other health care workers, maintaining a clean and sanitized work environment, and adhering to the company's safety policies and standards.
Histotechnicians and med technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Histotechnician | Med Technician | |
| Average salary | $49,119 | $44,523 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $80,000 | Between $31,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Stanford Health Care | Children's Hospital of Michigan |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a histotechnician and a med technician in terms of educational background:
| Histotechnician | Med Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Most common major | Biology | Nursing |
| Most common college | New York University | - |
Here are the differences between histotechnicians' and med technicians' demographics:
| Histotechnician | Med Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5% | Male, 15.2% Female, 84.8% |
| 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, 8.6% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 10.1% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |