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The differences between laboratory aides 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 laboratory aide and a clinical laboratory technician. Additionally, a clinical laboratory technician has an average salary of $50,756, which is higher than the $28,083 average annual salary of a laboratory aide.
The top three skills for a laboratory aide include patients, specimen handling and lab equipment. The most important skills for a clinical laboratory technician are patients, test results, and patient care.
| Laboratory Aide | Clinical Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $28,083 | $50,756 |
| Hourly rate | $13.50 | $24.40 |
| Growth rate | 9% | - |
| Number of jobs | 89,595 | 119,050 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A laboratory aide is primarily responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and order in laboratories, all while performing support tasks for scientists. Their duties revolve around arranging specimens and samples, transporting materials from one laboratory to another, preparing apparatuses and machines, and storing them accordingly. A laboratory aide may also run errands, produce progress reports, sanitize areas and instruments, and properly dispose of chemicals and other hazardous waste. Furthermore, it is crucial to implement the laboratory's safety policies and regulations, ensuring a safe and healthy laboratory environment for everyone.
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.
Laboratory aides and clinical laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Aide | Clinical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $28,083 | $50,756 |
| Salary range | Between $20,000 And $38,000 | Between $36,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | Stockton, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Illumina | Claxton Hepburn |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Media |
There are a few differences between a laboratory aide and a clinical laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Aide | Clinical Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | New York University |
Here are the differences between laboratory aides' and clinical laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Laboratory Aide | Clinical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.4% Female, 57.6% | Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 12.1% White, 54.6% 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% |