Laboratory animal caretaker vs certified medical technician

The differences between laboratory animal caretakers and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a certified medical technician has an average salary of $38,859, which is higher than the $26,564 average annual salary of a laboratory animal caretaker.

The top three skills for a laboratory animal caretaker include ventilation, safety procedures and pigs. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Laboratory animal caretaker vs certified medical technician overview

	Laboratory Animal Caretaker	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$26,564	$38,859
Hourly rate	$12.77	$18.68
Growth rate	19%	5%
Number of jobs	45,979	164,424
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 42%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	29	44
Years of experience	-	12

What does a laboratory animal caretaker do?

A laboratory animal caretaker is in charge of monitoring and taking care of animals in a research facility or similar setting, ensuring to handle them properly and humanely. Their responsibilities include feeding the animals, examining them for any diseases or injuries, gathering and preparing samples, and maintaining the cleanliness of work areas. Furthermore, as a laboratory animal caretaker, it is essential to provide research and clerical assistance to staff, all while upholding the laboratory's safety policies and regulations.

What does a certified medical technician do?

Certified Medical Technicians are specialists in medical diagnoses by performing laboratory testing and analysis for hospitals and physicians. Their duties include lab sanitization to prepare for testing and collection, recording medical samples for testing, specimen preparation, blood drawing for donation and testing, and assisting physicians with sample collection as well as equipment handling in surgical rooms. They must also understand how to use complex and sensitive testing equipment such as cell counters, analyzers, microscopes, and centrifuges.

Laboratory animal caretaker vs certified medical technician salary

Laboratory animal caretakers and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Laboratory Animal Caretaker	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$26,564	$38,859
Salary range	Between $19,000 And $36,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	Baltimore, MD	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	North Dakota	Alaska
Best paying company	Charles River Center	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	Government	Health Care

Differences between laboratory animal caretaker and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between a laboratory animal caretaker and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

	Laboratory Animal Caretaker	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 42%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Biology	Nursing
Most common college	Cornell University	University of Connecticut

Laboratory animal caretaker vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between laboratory animal caretakers' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

	Laboratory Animal Caretaker	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	29	44
Gender ratio	Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 68.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%	Black or African American, 15.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 10.0% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	10%	8%

Differences between laboratory animal caretaker and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Laboratory animal caretaker example responsibilities.

Manage pigs, sheep, chickens, horses, etc.-fed/groom animals-Assisted with animal theme events-Assured customers' safe positive interactions with animals
Assist in managing shelter for animals and arranging for adoption or euthanasia of confiscate animals.
Care for animals involve in laboratory research such as rats, mice, pigs, rabbits, toads, and squirrels.
Perform grooming duties such as; washing, brushing, clipping, and trimming coats, cutting nails and cleaning ears.
Complete physical checks and monitor patients to detect unusual or harmful behavior and report observations to professional staff.
Keep animals account update through Avimark.

Certified medical technician example responsibilities.

Maintain the cleanliness of storage areas, trays, centrifuges, refrigerators, freezers and work area.
Administer medications to patients according to their medication record as scheduled, as needed according to physician orders.
Perform laboratory test and procedures in areas including chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, serology, and bacteriology.
Perform first aid and apply CPR when necessary.
Perform first aid or CPR during medical emergencies until paramedics arrive.
Assist the residents in their ADL needs and prepare their meals.

Laboratory animal caretaker vs certified medical technician skills

Common laboratory animal caretaker skills

Ventilation, 19%
Safety Procedures, 15%
Pigs, 12%
Animal Species, 6%
Insemination, 6%
Research Animals, 5%

Common certified medical technician skills

Patients, 17%
Vital Signs, 12%
CPR, 8%
Administer Medications, 7%
Resident Care, 6%
HIPAA, 6%

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Laboratory Animal Caretaker
Laboratory Animal Caretaker vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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