Laboratory director vs certified medical technician

The differences between laboratory directors and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a laboratory director, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a laboratory director has an average salary of $92,971, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a laboratory director include clinical laboratory, patients and patient care. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Laboratory director vs certified medical technician overview

	Laboratory Director	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$92,971	$38,859
Hourly rate	$44.70	$18.68
Growth rate	28%	5%
Number of jobs	59,500	164,424
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	47	44
Years of experience	6	12

What does a laboratory director do?

A Laboratory Director is responsible for the overall operation and administration of the laboratory. They examine data, create reports, manage the staff, and ensure that the lab facility operates in accordance with the regulatory provisions of the government and the organization.

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 director vs certified medical technician salary

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

	Laboratory Director	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$92,971	$38,859
Salary range	Between $55,000 And $156,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	Delaware	Alaska
Best paying company	Reed Smith	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	Media	Health Care

Differences between laboratory director and certified medical technician education

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

	Laboratory Director	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Biology	Nursing
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Connecticut

Laboratory director vs certified medical technician demographics

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

	Laboratory Director	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	47	44
Gender ratio	Male, 55.9% Female, 44.1%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 8.1% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	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	12%	8%

Differences between laboratory director and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Laboratory director example responsibilities.

Perform and manage quality control, maintenance and calibration of all equipment in hematology, coagulation and urinalysis.
Set up forensic DNA laboratory, train laboratory technicians in advance molecular techniques, and manage day-to-day activities of forensic DNA laboratory
Consult patients on various laboratory procedures involve in IVF.
Supervise 8 managers and 130 full-time employees (FTEs).
Focus on sterility, endotoxin, water and bioburden testing.
Restore compliance integrity of lab back to full capacity in time for JCAHO inspection.

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 director vs certified medical technician skills

Common laboratory director skills

Clinical Laboratory, 11%
Patients, 10%
Patient Care, 9%
CLIA, 6%
Test Results, 6%
Laboratory Services, 4%

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 Director vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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