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The differences between laboratory technicians 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 technician and a medical laboratory technician. Additionally, a medical laboratory technician has an average salary of $51,780, which is higher than the $40,038 average annual salary of a laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a laboratory technician include patients, lab equipment and customer service. The most important skills for a medical laboratory technician are medical laboratory, patients, and ASCP.
| Laboratory Technician | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $40,038 | $51,780 |
| Hourly rate | $19.25 | $24.89 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 84,357 | 88,721 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Associate Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Laboratory technicians are medical professionals who work in the laboratory. They are responsible for the equipment in the laboratory, making sure tools are properly sanitized and sterilized after every use. They also ensure that laboratory equipment works well. Laboratory technicians may also be responsible for collecting and testing samples from patients. They prepare solutions and other chemicals that may be needed for testing. They also provide an analysis of the samples that they tested. Laboratory technicians ensure that all items in the laboratory are properly labeled and organized.
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 technicians and medical laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Technician | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $40,038 | $51,780 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $58,000 | Between $37,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Tenaska | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a laboratory technician and a medical laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Technician | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Associate Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Biology | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science |
| Most common college | New York University | University of Maryland - College Park |
Here are the differences between laboratory technicians' and medical laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Laboratory Technician | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.3% Female, 46.7% | Male, 29.3% Female, 70.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.4% 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% |