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The differences between medical laboratory assistants and medical assisting externs 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 medical assisting extern. Additionally, a medical assisting extern has an average salary of $35,737, which is higher than the $34,673 average annual salary of a medical laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a medical laboratory assistant include patients, customer service and data entry. The most important skills for a medical assisting extern are patients, vital signs, and EKG.
| Medical Laboratory Assistant | Medical Assisting Extern | |
| Yearly salary | $34,673 | $35,737 |
| Hourly rate | $16.67 | $17.18 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 124,322 | 81,077 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 27% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| 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 medical assisting extern is responsible for supporting the medical team in ensuring that the patients are offered the best care services by providing treatments and medications. Medical assisting externs' duties include practicing their medical skills by shadowing on medical professionals' activities, assisting patients with their inquiries and concerns, facilitating medical procedures with the doctor's supervision, and learning to operate medical tools and equipment as needed. A medical assisting extern must have excellent knowledge in the health industry, as well as a fast-learner to be familiarized with the complexities of medical processes and procedures.
Medical laboratory assistants and medical assisting externs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Laboratory Assistant | Medical Assisting Extern | |
| Average salary | $34,673 | $35,737 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $42,000 | Between $26,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Eugene, OR | - |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | - |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | - |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a medical laboratory assistant and a medical assisting extern in terms of educational background:
| Medical Laboratory Assistant | Medical Assisting Extern | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 27% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between medical laboratory assistants' and medical assisting externs' demographics:
| Medical Laboratory Assistant | Medical Assisting Extern | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 18.9% Female, 81.1% | Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7% |
| 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, 10.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 24.1% Asian, 9.6% White, 50.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |