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The differences between laboratory assistant/phlebotomists and medical 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 assistant/phlebotomist and a medical laboratory technician. Additionally, a medical laboratory technician has an average salary of $51,780, which is higher than the $34,553 average annual salary of a laboratory assistant/phlebotomist.
The top three skills for a laboratory assistant/phlebotomist include patients, blood specimens and customer service. The most important skills for a medical laboratory technician are medical laboratory, patients, and ASCP.
| Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $34,553 | $51,780 |
| Hourly rate | $16.61 | $24.89 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 74,428 | 88,721 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.33 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 23% | Associate Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
A medical laboratory technician is responsible for assisting medical health professionals in conducting laboratory tests to diagnose patients' conditions and provide treatments. Medical laboratory technicians ensure the sanitation of all the tools and equipment before conducting tests. They collect adequate blood samples and specimens, analyze fluid elements, utilize laboratory equipment safely, create reports of findings, and alert medical personnel and medical technologists of emergency conditions. A medical laboratory technician must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry disciplines and processes to perform sensitive tasks and release accurate medical results.
Laboratory assistant/phlebotomists and medical laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $34,553 | $51,780 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $43,000 | Between $37,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a laboratory assistant/phlebotomist and a medical laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 23% | Associate Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science |
| Most common college | University of Connecticut | University of Maryland - College Park |
Here are the differences between laboratory assistant/phlebotomists' and medical laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.1% Female, 82.9% | Male, 29.3% Female, 70.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |