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The differences between med technicians and medical laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a medical laboratory technician has an average salary of $51,780, which is higher than the $44,523 average annual salary of a med technician.
The top three skills for a med technician include patients, med-tech and cleanliness. The most important skills for a medical laboratory technician are medical laboratory, patients, and ASCP.
| Med Technician | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $44,523 | $51,780 |
| Hourly rate | $21.41 | $24.89 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 141,154 | 88,721 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.33 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 32% | Associate Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
Typically working in hospitals or private clinics, a med technician specializes in collecting blood or bodily fluids and analyzing them through laboratory tests. The results of these tests will be a vital factor in diagnosing a patient's condition and what treatment a physician should give. Moreover, a med technician is also responsible for producing accurate reports, reviewing data, coordinating with physicians and other health care workers, maintaining a clean and sanitized work environment, and adhering to the company's safety policies and standards.
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.
Med technicians and medical laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Med Technician | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $44,523 | $51,780 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $63,000 | Between $37,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Children's Hospital of Michigan | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | Government | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a med technician and a medical laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Med Technician | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 32% | Associate Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science |
| Most common college | - | University of Maryland - College Park |
Here are the differences between med technicians' and medical laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Med Technician | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 15.2% Female, 84.8% | Male, 29.3% Female, 70.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 10.1% White, 60.2% 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 | 5% | 8% |