Laboratory specialist vs clinical laboratory technician

The differences between laboratory specialists and clinical laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a laboratory specialist, becoming a clinical laboratory technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a clinical laboratory technician has an average salary of $50,756, which is higher than the $50,357 average annual salary of a laboratory specialist.

The top three skills for a laboratory specialist include chemistry, patients and test results. The most important skills for a clinical laboratory technician are patients, test results, and patient care.

Laboratory specialist vs clinical laboratory technician overview

	Laboratory Specialist	Clinical Laboratory Technician
Yearly salary	$50,357	$50,756
Hourly rate	$24.21	$24.40
Growth rate	10%	-
Number of jobs	68,634	119,050
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	2	12

What does a laboratory specialist do?

A laboratory specialist develops the areas assigned to them and promotes maximum resource allocation and utilization to achieve their goals. Laboratory specialists handle storage and backup devices, support telecommunication-associated equipment, and relay customer requests and issues. It is their job to process specimens in toxicology, coagulation, microbiology, hematology, chemistry, and urinalysis. Skills and knowledge in a photo lab, cell culture, customer service, and test cases are necessary for this position.

What does a clinical laboratory technician do?

A clinical laboratory technician typically works under the direction of a physician or medical technologist to perform tests that will aid in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions and illnesses. You will perform various duties, including preparing samples for analysis, monitoring tests and procedures, and matching blood for transfusion. Additionally, you are expected to participate in staff training and educational opportunities and contribute to a secure and safe environment for patients, physicians, co-workers, and visitors. This role will also require ensuring that laboratory information remains confidential.

Laboratory specialist vs clinical laboratory technician salary

Laboratory specialists and clinical laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Laboratory Specialist	Clinical Laboratory Technician
Average salary	$50,357	$50,756
Salary range	Between $36,000 And $69,000	Between $36,000 And $70,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	Stockton, CA
Highest paying state	Hawaii	Alaska
Best paying company	Nokia	Claxton Hepburn
Best paying industry	Health Care	Media

Differences between laboratory specialist and clinical laboratory technician education

There are a few differences between a laboratory specialist and a clinical laboratory technician in terms of educational background:

	Laboratory Specialist	Clinical Laboratory Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common major	Biology	Biology
Most common college	SUNY Stony Brook	New York University

Laboratory specialist vs clinical laboratory technician demographics

Here are the differences between laboratory specialists' and clinical laboratory technicians' demographics:

	Laboratory Specialist	Clinical Laboratory Technician
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 47.3% Female, 52.7%	Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 12.9% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between laboratory specialist and clinical laboratory technician duties and responsibilities

Laboratory specialist example responsibilities.

Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
Process specimens in the areas of chemistry, toxicology, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, serology, and microbiology.
Perform general routine clinical laboratory testing in the areas of clinical chemistry, hematology, coagulation, urinalysis and blood bank.
Perform DNA and RNA isolation, standard and real time PCR, primer design, gene sequence analysis.
Perform clinical laboratory procedures in hematology, clinical chemistry and urinalysis.
Provide customer service to patients and clinicians while collecting specimens and providing patient education.

Clinical laboratory technician example responsibilities.

Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
Provide oversight of training and competency testing of technicians to ensure compliance with CLIA, HIPPA and OSHA guidelines.
Collect, process, and analyze clinical specimens for several departments including microbiology, chemistry, hematology, and urinalysis
Experience working in a hospital laboratory in automate chemistry, hematology, blood bank, urinalysis, and immunology departments.
Dispose of biohazard wastes according to OSHA standards ..
Screen blood products for pathogens and co-treatment success.

Laboratory specialist vs clinical laboratory technician skills

Common laboratory specialist skills

Chemistry, 10%
Patients, 10%
Test Results, 8%
Laboratory Tests, 7%
Patient Care, 6%
Centrifuges, 5%

Common clinical laboratory technician skills

Patients, 16%
Test Results, 7%
Patient Care, 6%
Hematology, 5%
Body Fluids, 4%
Proficiency Testing, 4%

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Laboratory Specialist
Laboratory Specialist vs Clinical Laboratory Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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