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The differences between laboratory assistants and medical laboratory assistants 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 assistant and a medical laboratory assistant. Additionally, a medical laboratory assistant has an average salary of $34,673, which is higher than the $34,168 average annual salary of a laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a laboratory assistant include patients, phlebotomy and customer service. The most important skills for a medical laboratory assistant are patients, customer service, and data entry.
| Laboratory Assistant | Medical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $34,168 | $34,673 |
| Hourly rate | $16.43 | $16.67 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 50,853 | 124,322 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Associate Degree, 27% |
| Average age | 44 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Laboratory assistants work for researchers, scientists, or professors in the laboratory setting. They are expected to have a solid background in the field of study of the laboratory they are assigned to. They do a variety of tasks in the laboratory, such as setting up equipment, observing experiments, analyzing results, creating reports, and recommending improvements to the testing. They may also be assigned to clean and sanitize laboratory equipment as needed. Laboratory assistants should have good research skills, analytical skills, and organizational skills.
A medical laboratory assistant is in charge of performing support tasks while under the supervision and directives of a more experienced medical technician or scientist. Their responsibilities typically revolve around collecting samples such as blood and tissues, preparing slides, running tests using machines and equipment, and maintaining records of all procedures and results. Furthermore, a medical laboratory assistant must also keep the cleanliness of the laboratory, organize and monitor inventories, procure supplies, and implement the laboratory's policies and regulations.
Laboratory assistants and medical laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Assistant | Medical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $34,168 | $34,673 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $44,000 | Between $27,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Eugene, OR |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | UST Global | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a laboratory assistant and a medical laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Assistant | Medical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Associate Degree, 27% |
| Most common major | Biology | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | New York University | - |
Here are the differences between laboratory assistants' and medical laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Laboratory Assistant | Medical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4% | Male, 18.9% Female, 81.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 13.9% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 9.1% White, 51.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |