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The differences between medical assistant/phlebotomists and medical laboratory assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a medical assistant/phlebotomist and a medical laboratory assistant. Additionally, a medical laboratory assistant has an average salary of $34,673, which is higher than the $33,674 average annual salary of a medical assistant/phlebotomist.
The top three skills for a medical assistant/phlebotomist include patients, vital signs and customer service. The most important skills for a medical laboratory assistant are patients, customer service, and data entry.
| Medical Assistant/Phlebotomist | Medical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $33,674 | $34,673 |
| Hourly rate | $16.19 | $16.67 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 189,206 | 124,322 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 23% | Associate Degree, 27% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Medical assistants/phlebotomists are medical personnel who execute administrative and clinical tasks in healthcare facilities or units. They are responsible for providing healthcare to patients such as immunization administration, orthopedic supplies, and wound care. It is part of their job to take the blood of patients for blood testing. They also take charge of handling other medical tests for the upkeep of patients' health. These professionals should exhibit compatibility, initiative, and cohesiveness within the team.
A medical laboratory assistant is in charge of performing support tasks while under the supervision and directives of a more experienced medical technician or scientist. Their responsibilities typically revolve around collecting samples such as blood and tissues, preparing slides, running tests using machines and equipment, and maintaining records of all procedures and results. Furthermore, a medical laboratory assistant must also keep the cleanliness of the laboratory, organize and monitor inventories, procure supplies, and implement the laboratory's policies and regulations.
Medical assistant/phlebotomists and medical laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Assistant/Phlebotomist | Medical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $33,674 | $34,673 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $41,000 | Between $27,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Eugene, OR |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Conviva | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a medical assistant/phlebotomist and a medical laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Medical Assistant/Phlebotomist | Medical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 23% | Associate Degree, 27% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between medical assistant/phlebotomists' and medical laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Medical Assistant/Phlebotomist | Medical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 11.4% Female, 88.6% | Male, 18.9% Female, 81.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.7% Asian, 8.6% White, 51.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 9.1% White, 51.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |