Medical laboratory scientist vs medical technologist, generalist

The differences between medical laboratory scientists and medical technologists, generalist can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a medical laboratory scientist and a medical technologist, generalist. Additionally, a medical technologist, generalist has an average salary of $58,246, which is higher than the $54,377 average annual salary of a medical laboratory scientist.

The top three skills for a medical laboratory scientist include patients, ASCP and clinical laboratory. The most important skills for a medical technologist, generalist are patients, clinical laboratory, and hematology.

Medical laboratory scientist vs medical technologist, generalist overview

	Medical Laboratory Scientist	Medical Technologist, Generalist
Yearly salary	$54,377	$58,246
Hourly rate	$26.14	$28.00
Growth rate	-	7%
Number of jobs	121,913	121,721
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 74%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	2	2

What does a medical laboratory scientist do?

As a medical laboratory scientist, you will be responsible for analyzing various types of body specimens, including blood, tissue, and urine. You will conduct scientific testing on samples and report the results to physicians. These results play an essential role in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions or illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes. Your duties and responsibilities may include maintaining laboratory equipment such as microscopes and cell counters, tracking patient outcomes, and conducting differential cell counts. You are also expected to oversee the work of laboratory technicians.

What does a medical technologist, generalist do?

A Medical Technologist Generalist performs day-to-day operations in the laboratory such as routine testing, quality control, and maintenance of instruments. They also develop, perform, and evaluate the accuracy of laboratory procedures.

Medical laboratory scientist vs medical technologist, generalist salary

Medical laboratory scientists and medical technologists, generalist have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Medical Laboratory Scientist	Medical Technologist, Generalist
Average salary	$54,377	$58,246
Salary range	Between $41,000 And $71,000	Between $42,000 And $79,000
Highest paying City	Reno, NV	Palo Alto, CA
Highest paying state	Alaska	Alaska
Best paying company	Eli Lilly and Company	Soliant
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between medical laboratory scientist and medical technologist, generalist education

There are a few differences between a medical laboratory scientist and a medical technologist, generalist in terms of educational background:

	Medical Laboratory Scientist	Medical Technologist, Generalist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 74%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common major	Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science	Medical Technician
Most common college	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Medical laboratory scientist vs medical technologist, generalist demographics

Here are the differences between medical laboratory scientists' and medical technologists, generalist' demographics:

	Medical Laboratory Scientist	Medical Technologist, Generalist
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 33.7% Female, 66.3%	Male, 29.3% Female, 70.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 12.7% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between medical laboratory scientist and medical technologist, generalist duties and responsibilities

Medical laboratory scientist example responsibilities.

Attain extensive phlebotomy experience with a challenging pediatric patient population.
Perform complex laboratory diagnostic tests as medical laboratory scientist in hematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, urinalysis and blood bank.
Evaluate quality control within the laboratory using standard laboratory test and measurement controls while maintaining compliance with CLIA and OSHA.
Execute and analyze test in areas including, hematology, urinalysis, serology, bacteriology, chemistry and transfusion services.
Assist in Cerner LIS system implementation and resource as super user.
Experience in immunology, infectious disease testing, and therapeutic drug monitoring.

Medical technologist, generalist example responsibilities.

Manage data process flow to ensure employee timekeeping, attendance and payroll objectives are effectively and efficiently maintain.
Perform specimen processing and testing, phlebotomy, analyzer maintenance, proficiency testing etc.
Perform, instruct and delegate medical technologist generalist testing in chemistry, hematology, blood bank and microbiology.
Process and analyze specimens in all areas of the lab including chemistry, hematology, coagulation, urinalysis and microbiology.
Work with a team of Maya artists and composers to produce various commercials from different companies.
Input salary changes, update direct deposit information and withholding allowance certificates into the HRIS system.

Medical laboratory scientist vs medical technologist, generalist skills

Common medical laboratory scientist skills

Patients, 13%
ASCP, 11%
Clinical Laboratory, 10%
MLS, 8%
Proficiency Testing, 5%
Patient Care, 4%

Common medical technologist, generalist skills

Patients, 13%
Clinical Laboratory, 13%
Hematology, 9%
Patient Care, 7%
Microbiology, 6%
Blood Bank, 6%

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Medical Laboratory Scientist vs Medical Technologist, Generalist

Updated January 8, 2025

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