Laboratory associate vs medical technologist, generalist

The differences between laboratory associates and medical technologists, generalist can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a laboratory associate, becoming a medical technologist, generalist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a medical technologist, generalist has an average salary of $58,246, which is higher than the $42,756 average annual salary of a laboratory associate.

The top three skills for a laboratory associate include patients, specimen handling and phlebotomy. The most important skills for a medical technologist, generalist are patients, clinical laboratory, and hematology.

Laboratory associate vs medical technologist, generalist overview

	Laboratory Associate	Medical Technologist, Generalist
Yearly salary	$42,756	$58,246
Hourly rate	$20.56	$28.00
Growth rate	-	7%
Number of jobs	50,050	121,721
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 63%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	12	2

What does a laboratory associate do?

A laboratory associate's responsibilities revolve around preparing test samples and subjecting them into different examination processes for scientific purposes. Aside from performing extensive analysis, they are also responsible for recording data, reviewing findings, collaborating with other scientists, and producing various reports and presentations. A laboratory associate can work for an institution or private company; they may also choose to contribute their studies in different publications and research activities. Furthermore, as a laboratory practitioner, it is essential to adhere to all the laboratory safety policies and regulations, ensuring a safe and healthy work environment.

What does a medical technologist, generalist do?

A Medical Technologist Generalist performs day-to-day operations in the laboratory such as routine testing, quality control, and maintenance of instruments. They also develop, perform, and evaluate the accuracy of laboratory procedures.

Laboratory associate vs medical technologist, generalist salary

Laboratory associates and medical technologists, generalist have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Laboratory Associate	Medical Technologist, Generalist
Average salary	$42,756	$58,246
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $63,000	Between $42,000 And $79,000
Highest paying City	New Brunswick, NJ	Palo Alto, CA
Highest paying state	Alaska	Alaska
Best paying company	Meta	Soliant
Best paying industry	Pharmaceutical	Health Care

Differences between laboratory associate and medical technologist, generalist education

There are a few differences between a laboratory associate and a medical technologist, generalist in terms of educational background:

	Laboratory Associate	Medical Technologist, Generalist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 63%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common major	Biology	Medical Technician
Most common college	New York University	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Laboratory associate vs medical technologist, generalist demographics

Here are the differences between laboratory associates' and medical technologists, generalist' demographics:

	Laboratory Associate	Medical Technologist, Generalist
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 42.2% Female, 57.8%	Male, 29.3% Female, 70.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.2% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between laboratory associate and medical technologist, generalist duties and responsibilities

Laboratory associate example responsibilities.

Manage supply inventory and maintain cleanliness.
Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
Direct patient care, phlebotomy, medical billing, clinical laboratory specimen collection, reference laboratory coordinator, specimen courier.
Operate combines to harvest crops for yield-testing field crops.
Perform fluorescence in situ hybridization in a CLIA certify lab.
Utilize CoPath for receiving specimen and reporting out of test results.

Medical technologist, generalist example responsibilities.

Manage data process flow to ensure employee timekeeping, attendance and payroll objectives are effectively and efficiently maintain.
Perform specimen processing and testing, phlebotomy, analyzer maintenance, proficiency testing etc.
Perform, instruct and delegate medical technologist generalist testing in chemistry, hematology, blood bank and microbiology.
Process and analyze specimens in all areas of the lab including chemistry, hematology, coagulation, urinalysis and microbiology.
Work with a team of Maya artists and composers to produce various commercials from different companies.
Input salary changes, update direct deposit information and withholding allowance certificates into the HRIS system.

Laboratory associate vs medical technologist, generalist skills

Common laboratory associate skills

Patients, 10%
Specimen Handling, 6%
Phlebotomy, 6%
Chemistry, 6%
Customer Service, 4%
Patient Care, 4%

Common medical technologist, generalist skills

Patients, 13%
Clinical Laboratory, 13%
Hematology, 9%
Patient Care, 7%
Microbiology, 6%
Blood Bank, 6%

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Laboratory Associate
Laboratory Associate vs Medical Technologist, Generalist

Updated January 8, 2025

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