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The differences between medical laboratory specialists and laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a medical laboratory specialist, becoming a laboratory technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a medical laboratory specialist has an average salary of $51,304, which is higher than the $40,038 average annual salary of a laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a medical laboratory specialist include patients, urinalysis and body fluids. The most important skills for a laboratory technician are patients, lab equipment, and customer service.
| Medical Laboratory Specialist | Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $51,304 | $40,038 |
| Hourly rate | $24.67 | $19.25 |
| Growth rate | - | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 89,770 | 84,357 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A Medical Laboratory Specialist performs tests on the tissue, blood, and body fluids of patients. They determine patients' blood types for transfusions, as well as conduct medical research and analysis.
Laboratory technicians are medical professionals who work in the laboratory. They are responsible for the equipment in the laboratory, making sure tools are properly sanitized and sterilized after every use. They also ensure that laboratory equipment works well. Laboratory technicians may also be responsible for collecting and testing samples from patients. They prepare solutions and other chemicals that may be needed for testing. They also provide an analysis of the samples that they tested. Laboratory technicians ensure that all items in the laboratory are properly labeled and organized.
Medical laboratory specialists and laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Laboratory Specialist | Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $51,304 | $40,038 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $71,000 | Between $27,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Tenaska |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a medical laboratory specialist and a laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Medical Laboratory Specialist | Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science | Biology |
| Most common college | SUNY Stony Brook | New York University |
Here are the differences between medical laboratory specialists' and laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Medical Laboratory Specialist | Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.2% Female, 43.8% | Male, 53.3% Female, 46.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 11.0% White, 52.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |