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The differences between med technicians and medical technologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a medical technologist has an average salary of $53,249, 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 technologist are patients, clinical laboratory, and ASCP.
| Med Technician | Medical Technologist | |
| Yearly salary | $44,523 | $53,249 |
| Hourly rate | $21.41 | $25.60 |
| Growth rate | 5% | - |
| Number of jobs | 141,154 | 116,495 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
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 technologist's role is to conduct laboratory tests with accuracy and speed. It is their responsibility to gather, prepare, and analyze samples such as blood, tissues, and bodily fluid. The produced results will be crucial to a patient's diagnosis and further treatments. It is also essential for medical technologists to keep a precise record of data and coordinate with fellow team members and physicians to ensure the fast and efficient delivery of results. Furthermore, a medical technologist can choose to work in different establishments such as a hospital, laboratory, or private clinic.
Med technicians and medical technologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Med Technician | Medical Technologist | |
| Average salary | $44,523 | $53,249 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $63,000 | Between $41,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Children's Hospital of Michigan | Children's Hospital Colorado |
| Best paying industry | Government | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a med technician and a medical technologist in terms of educational background:
| Med Technician | Medical Technologist | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | - | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between med technicians' and medical technologists' demographics:
| Med Technician | Medical Technologist | |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 15.2% Female, 84.8% | Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5% |
| 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, 11.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 8% |