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The differences between medical laboratory assistants and clinical 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 laboratory assistant and a clinical laboratory assistant. Additionally, a medical laboratory assistant has an average salary of $34,673, which is higher than the $32,679 average annual salary of a clinical laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a medical laboratory assistant include patients, customer service and data entry. The most important skills for a clinical laboratory assistant are patients, phlebotomy, and clinical lab.
| Medical Laboratory Assistant | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $34,673 | $32,679 |
| Hourly rate | $16.67 | $15.71 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 124,322 | 108,124 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 27% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 37 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
A clinical laboratory assistant specializes in performing support tasks in a laboratory or similar setting using their in-depth knowledge. They are primarily responsible for assisting researchers, preparing samples and apparatus, conducting experiments and analysis, maintaining extensive documentation of all processes and results, and reporting to management. Moreover, a clinical laboratory assistant is also responsible for gathering necessary information before beginning studies and maintaining the laboratory's cleanliness and sanitation. It is vital to implement all the safety rules and regulations to ensure a safe and productive work environment.
Medical laboratory assistants and clinical laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Laboratory Assistant | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $34,673 | $32,679 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $42,000 | Between $26,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Eugene, OR | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Alaska |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Roswell Park |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a medical laboratory assistant and a clinical laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Medical Laboratory Assistant | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 27% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Biology |
| Most common college | - | New York University |
Here are the differences between medical laboratory assistants' and clinical laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Medical Laboratory Assistant | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 37 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 18.9% Female, 81.1% | Male, 25.4% Female, 74.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.1% White, 54.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |