Medical technologist, generalist vs laboratory assistant

The differences between medical technologists, generalist and laboratory assistants 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 technologist, generalist, becoming a laboratory assistant takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a medical technologist, generalist has an average salary of $58,246, which is higher than the $34,168 average annual salary of a laboratory assistant.

The top three skills for a medical technologist, generalist include patients, clinical laboratory and hematology. The most important skills for a laboratory assistant are patients, phlebotomy, and customer service.

Medical technologist, generalist vs laboratory assistant overview

	Medical Technologist, Generalist	Laboratory Assistant
Yearly salary	$58,246	$34,168
Hourly rate	$28.00	$16.43
Growth rate	7%	9%
Number of jobs	121,721	50,853
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	2	12

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.

What does a laboratory assistant do?

Laboratory assistants work for researchers, scientists, or professors in the laboratory setting. They are expected to have a solid background in the field of study of the laboratory they are assigned to. They do a variety of tasks in the laboratory, such as setting up equipment, observing experiments, analyzing results, creating reports, and recommending improvements to the testing. They may also be assigned to clean and sanitize laboratory equipment as needed. Laboratory assistants should have good research skills, analytical skills, and organizational skills.

Medical technologist, generalist vs laboratory assistant salary

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

	Medical Technologist, Generalist	Laboratory Assistant
Average salary	$58,246	$34,168
Salary range	Between $42,000 And $79,000	Between $26,000 And $44,000
Highest paying City	Palo Alto, CA	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	Alaska	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Soliant	UST Global
Best paying industry	Health Care	Manufacturing

Differences between medical technologist, generalist and laboratory assistant education

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

	Medical Technologist, Generalist	Laboratory Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common major	Medical Technician	Biology
Most common college	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	New York University

Medical technologist, generalist vs laboratory assistant demographics

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

	Medical Technologist, Generalist	Laboratory Assistant
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 29.3% Female, 70.7%	Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 13.9% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

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

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.

Laboratory assistant example responsibilities.

Comfort frighten patients and maintain an exceptionally bright professional demeanor to accomplish a procedure that makes most people very uncomfortable.
Maintain and QC check laboratory equipment.
Preform laboratory duties using microscopes, centrifuges and a host of other laboratory equipment.
Provide excellent customer service to patients while accurately updating patient demographics, insurance and billing information in LabCorp LCM program.
Provide continuing education in the form of periodic in-services relating the phlebotomy procedures, tests and proper specimen collection requirements.
Process eyewear to meet national ANSII and OSHA standards.

Medical technologist, generalist vs laboratory assistant skills

Common medical technologist, generalist skills

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

Common laboratory assistant skills

Patients, 15%
Phlebotomy, 12%
Customer Service, 6%
Lab Procedures, 5%
Specimen Collection, 5%
Patient Care, 5%

Medical Technologist, Generalist vs. similar jobs

Medical Technologist, Generalist related careers

Medical Technologist, Generalist related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Medical Technologist, Generalist
Medical Technologist, Generalist vs Laboratory Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs