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The differences between medical technologists and clinical laboratory scientists 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 technologist and a clinical laboratory scientist. Additionally, a clinical laboratory scientist has an average salary of $67,900, which is higher than the $53,249 average annual salary of a medical technologist.
The top three skills for a medical technologist include patients, clinical laboratory and ASCP. The most important skills for a clinical laboratory scientist are patients, test results, and microbiology.
| Medical Technologist | Clinical Laboratory Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $53,249 | $67,900 |
| Hourly rate | $25.60 | $32.64 |
| Growth rate | - | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 116,495 | 133,838 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A medical technologist's role is to conduct laboratory tests with accuracy and speed. It is their responsibility to gather, prepare, and analyze samples such as blood, tissues, and bodily fluid. The produced results will be crucial to a patient's diagnosis and further treatments. It is also essential for medical technologists to keep a precise record of data and coordinate with fellow team members and physicians to ensure the fast and efficient delivery of results. Furthermore, a medical technologist can choose to work in different establishments such as a hospital, laboratory, or private clinic.
A Clinical Laboratory Scientist is responsible for performing laboratory tests that doctors count on to correctly diagnose and treat patients. They examine body fluids, tissues, and cells, identify infective microorganisms, and analyze the chemical constituents of body fluids.
Medical technologists and clinical laboratory scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Technologist | Clinical Laboratory Scientist | |
| Average salary | $53,249 | $67,900 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $68,000 | Between $46,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Children's Hospital Colorado | Westpac |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a medical technologist and a clinical laboratory scientist in terms of educational background:
| Medical Technologist | Clinical Laboratory Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between medical technologists' and clinical laboratory scientists' demographics:
| Medical Technologist | Clinical Laboratory Scientist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5% | Male, 34.8% Female, 65.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 15.4% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |