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Medical laboratory technician assistant vs medical assistant

The differences between medical laboratory technician assistants and medical 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 technician assistant and a medical assistant. Additionally, a medical laboratory technician assistant has an average salary of $36,484, which is higher than the $34,900 average annual salary of a medical assistant.

The top three skills for a medical laboratory technician assistant include phlebotomy, patients and lab tech. The most important skills for a medical assistant are patients, vital signs, and patient care.

Medical laboratory technician assistant vs medical assistant overview

Medical Laboratory Technician AssistantMedical Assistant
Yearly salary$36,484$34,900
Hourly rate$17.54$16.78
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs128,758189,915
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 30%Associate Degree, 24%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

What does a medical laboratory technician assistant do?

A Medical Laboratory Technician Assistant provides information for patient diagnosis and treatment. They work under the supervision of a medical technologist or physician.

What does a medical assistant do?

Medical assistants provide support to medical practitioners in both administrative and clerical tasks. They keep and update the patient's medical records, administer medicines under the supervision of a physician, assist during medical examinations, prepare medical samples for laboratory testing, manage the schedule of appointments, and assist the patients with their bills and in filling out needed forms, such as insurance-related documents. Medical assistants should have good communication skills and analytical skills, be organized, and be flexible. They should also have knowledge of how to operate some medical equipment such as x-ray machines.

Medical laboratory technician assistant vs medical assistant salary

Medical laboratory technician assistants and medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical Laboratory Technician AssistantMedical Assistant
Average salary$36,484$34,900
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $50,000Between $27,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City-Vancouver, WA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Columbia University in the City of New York
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between medical laboratory technician assistant and medical assistant education

There are a few differences between a medical laboratory technician assistant and a medical assistant in terms of educational background:

Medical Laboratory Technician AssistantMedical Assistant
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 30%Associate Degree, 24%
Most common majorMedical Assisting ServicesMedical Assisting Services
Most common college--

Medical laboratory technician assistant vs medical assistant demographics

Here are the differences between medical laboratory technician assistants' and medical assistants' demographics:

Medical Laboratory Technician AssistantMedical Assistant
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 17.8% Female, 82.2%Male, 10.4% Female, 89.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 22.2% Asian, 9.1% White, 51.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 25.7% Asian, 8.8% White, 49.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between medical laboratory technician assistant and medical assistant duties and responsibilities

Medical laboratory technician assistant example responsibilities.

  • Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, performing procedures and managing emergencies.
  • Promote continuity of care by accurately and completely communicating to other caregivers the status of patients for which care is provided.
  • Perform all protocol specific regulatory duties from initial submission to IRB to final study close-out.

Medical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Create and maintain confidential patient files; implement EHR systems to automate patient records management for the purposes of meaningful use.
  • Adhere to OSHA guidelines while performing instrument sterilization in addition to managing medical inventory.
  • Participate in emergency surgical intervention in obstetrics and gynecology patients.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in taking patient history and vitals, venipuncture, injections, urinalysis and preparing examination trays.
  • Attend to new out patients in gynecology clinic, make clinical diagnosis and follow up.
  • Provide RMA support to physician, and patients, including but not limit to vitals and patient history.
  • Show more

Medical laboratory technician assistant vs medical assistant skills

Common medical laboratory technician assistant skills
  • Phlebotomy, 14%
  • Patients, 13%
  • Lab Tech, 7%
  • EKG, 6%
  • Vital Signs, 6%
  • Surgical Procedures, 5%
Common medical assistant skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Vital Signs, 10%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Phlebotomy, 4%
  • CPR, 4%
  • EKG, 4%

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