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Lead laboratory technician vs certified medical technician

The differences between lead laboratory technicians and certified medical 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 lead laboratory technician and a certified medical technician. Additionally, a lead laboratory technician has an average salary of $54,230, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a lead laboratory technician include patients, lab equipment and customer service. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Lead laboratory technician vs certified medical technician overview

Lead Laboratory TechnicianCertified Medical Technician
Yearly salary$54,230$38,859
Hourly rate$26.07$18.68
Growth rate3%5%
Number of jobs77,096164,424
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age4444
Years of experience1212

What does a lead laboratory technician do?

A Lead Laboratory Technician coordinates the operations of a laboratory. They supervise the preparation of specimens for tests, collection of blood, examination of blood samples, and other duties performed by the technician team.

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.

Lead laboratory technician vs certified medical technician salary

Lead laboratory technicians and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Lead Laboratory TechnicianCertified Medical Technician
Average salary$54,230$38,859
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $86,000Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CitySouth San Francisco, CADenton, TX
Highest paying stateNew JerseyAlaska
Best paying companyMetaFavorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industryManufacturingHealth Care

Differences between lead laboratory technician and certified medical technician education

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

Lead Laboratory TechnicianCertified Medical Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common majorBiologyNursing
Most common collegeNew York UniversityUniversity of Connecticut

Lead laboratory technician vs certified medical technician demographics

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

Lead Laboratory TechnicianCertified Medical Technician
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 58.2% Female, 41.8%Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%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 Percentage8%8%

Differences between lead laboratory technician and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Lead laboratory technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
  • Set up, adjust, calibrate, clean, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory instruments.
  • Assist with FDA and OSHA audits, coordinate the center for all audits and inspections.
  • Accession patient information, doctor information, and testing information accurately and promptly into the NovoPath LIS system.
  • Develop and execute IQ/OQ/PQ at manufacturing site.
  • Maintain, troubleshoot, verify and calibrate laboratory equipment.
  • Show more

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.
  • Show more

Lead laboratory technician vs certified medical technician skills

Common lead laboratory technician skills
  • Patients, 12%
  • Lab Equipment, 11%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Ongoing Maintenance, 5%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Chemistry, 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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