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Laboratory specialist vs medical technologist, generalist

The differences between laboratory specialists and medical technologists, generalist can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a laboratory specialist and a medical technologist, generalist. Additionally, a medical technologist, generalist has an average salary of $58,246, 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 medical technologist, generalist are patients, clinical laboratory, and hematology.

Laboratory specialist vs medical technologist, generalist overview

Laboratory SpecialistMedical Technologist, Generalist
Yearly salary$50,357$58,246
Hourly rate$24.21$28.00
Growth rate10%7%
Number of jobs68,634121,721
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

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 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 specialist vs medical technologist, generalist salary

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

Laboratory SpecialistMedical Technologist, Generalist
Average salary$50,357$58,246
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $69,000Between $42,000 And $79,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MAPalo Alto, CA
Highest paying stateHawaiiAlaska
Best paying companyNokiaSoliant
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between laboratory specialist and medical technologist, generalist education

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

Laboratory SpecialistMedical Technologist, Generalist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorBiologyMedical Technician
Most common collegeSUNY Stony BrookUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Laboratory specialist vs medical technologist, generalist demographics

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

Laboratory SpecialistMedical Technologist, Generalist
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 47.3% Female, 52.7%Male, 29.3% Female, 70.7%
Race ratioBlack 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, 10.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between laboratory specialist and medical technologist, generalist 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.
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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.
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Laboratory specialist vs medical technologist, generalist skills

Common laboratory specialist skills
  • Chemistry, 10%
  • Patients, 10%
  • Test Results, 8%
  • Laboratory Tests, 7%
  • Patient Care, 6%
  • Centrifuges, 5%
Common medical technologist, generalist skills
  • Patients, 13%
  • Clinical Laboratory, 13%
  • Hematology, 9%
  • Patient Care, 7%
  • Microbiology, 6%
  • Blood Bank, 6%

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