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The differences between medical technologists and clinical 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 technologist, becoming a clinical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a medical technologist has an average salary of $53,249, which is higher than the $35,760 average annual salary of a clinical technician.
The top three skills for a medical technologist include patients, clinical laboratory and ASCP. The most important skills for a clinical technician are patients, vital signs, and phlebotomy.
| Medical Technologist | Clinical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $53,249 | $35,760 |
| Hourly rate | $25.60 | $17.19 |
| Growth rate | - | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 116,495 | 161,812 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
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 technician is responsible for operating and maintaining clinical equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of all laboratory tools and kits to avoid contamination during medical procedures. Clinical technicians assist the patients with their medical inquiries and needs, collecting samples for laboratory, and helping medical professionals on surgeries and other medical operations. They also maintain medical charts, update patients' information on the database, and administer patients' medication. A clinical technician must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry, as well as strictly following internal guidelines and safety procedures during operations.
Medical technologists and clinical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Technologist | Clinical Technician | |
| Average salary | $53,249 | $35,760 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $68,000 | Between $26,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Children's Hospital Colorado | Brigham and Women's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between a medical technologist and a clinical technician in terms of educational background:
| Medical Technologist | Clinical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between medical technologists' and clinical technicians' demographics:
| Medical Technologist | Clinical Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5% | Male, 26.6% Female, 73.4% |
| 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, 12.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 11.2% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |