Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between medical technologists and laboratory assistant/phlebotomists 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 laboratory assistant/phlebotomist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a medical technologist has an average salary of $53,249, which is higher than the $34,553 average annual salary of a laboratory assistant/phlebotomist.
The top three skills for a medical technologist include patients, clinical laboratory and ASCP. The most important skills for a laboratory assistant/phlebotomist are patients, blood specimens, and customer service.
| Medical Technologist | Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Yearly salary | $53,249 | $34,553 |
| Hourly rate | $25.60 | $16.61 |
| Growth rate | - | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 116,495 | 74,428 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Associate Degree, 23% |
| 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 laboratory assistant/phlebotomist is responsible for drawing blood samples and other laboratory tests, labeling specimens, and performing administrative and clerical duties as needed. Laboratory assistants/phlebotomists should ensure that the laboratory tools and equipment are stored and secured in a safe area, as well as regularly sterilizing testing tools to avoid contamination upon the use of the patients. They must be highly knowledgeable of the medical procedures and processes, responding to the patients' inquiries and concerns, and providing a timely update of medical results.
Medical technologists and laboratory assistant/phlebotomists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Technologist | Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Average salary | $53,249 | $34,553 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $68,000 | Between $27,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | - |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | - |
| Best paying company | Children's Hospital Colorado | - |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a medical technologist and a laboratory assistant/phlebotomist in terms of educational background:
| Medical Technologist | Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Associate Degree, 23% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between medical technologists' and laboratory assistant/phlebotomists' demographics:
| Medical Technologist | Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5% | Male, 17.1% Female, 82.9% |
| 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, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |