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Medical technologist vs laboratory coordinator

The differences between medical technologists and laboratory coordinators 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 laboratory coordinator. Additionally, a medical technologist has an average salary of $53,249, which is higher than the $52,690 average annual salary of a laboratory coordinator.

The top three skills for a medical technologist include patients, clinical laboratory and ASCP. The most important skills for a laboratory coordinator are lab equipment, patients, and patient care.

Medical technologist vs laboratory coordinator overview

Medical TechnologistLaboratory Coordinator
Yearly salary$53,249$52,690
Hourly rate$25.60$25.33
Growth rate-3%
Number of jobs116,49564,914
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a medical technologist do?

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.

What does a laboratory coordinator do?

A laboratory coordinator is responsible for supporting laboratory examinations and experiments, collecting laboratory samples, and ensuring the efficiency and performance of laboratory tools and equipment. Laboratory coordinators maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the laboratory facility at all times to avoid contaminations and hazards that may affect laboratory results and accuracy of examinations. They also perform scientific processes under the supervision of a scientist or laboratory technicians and keep an organized report of findings in the database.

Medical technologist vs laboratory coordinator salary

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

Medical TechnologistLaboratory Coordinator
Average salary$53,249$52,690
Salary rangeBetween $41,000 And $68,000Between $38,000 And $72,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WABoston, MA
Highest paying stateAlaskaHawaii
Best paying companyChildren's Hospital ColoradoAbbVie
Best paying industryHealth CarePharmaceutical

Differences between medical technologist and laboratory coordinator education

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

Medical TechnologistLaboratory Coordinator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of Pennsylvania

Medical technologist vs laboratory coordinator demographics

Here are the differences between medical technologists' and laboratory coordinators' demographics:

Medical TechnologistLaboratory Coordinator
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 31.5% Female, 68.5%Male, 41.5% Female, 58.5%
Race ratioBlack 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, 10.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between medical technologist and laboratory coordinator duties and responsibilities

Medical technologist example responsibilities.

  • Manage departmental recovery activities after installation of upgrades affecting the LIS affect.
  • Perform medical/laboratory procedures in all departments including microbiology, chemistry, blood bank, hematology, urinalysis, and immunology.
  • Perform laboratory test to corporal fluids applying analysis fields like biochemistry, microbiology, hematology, immunology, urinalysis and blood bank
  • Execute and analyze laboratory test in biochemistry, urinalysis, hematology, microbiology, blood bank and serology department.
  • Direct participation on proficiency testing programs on hematology, chemistry, urinalysis, blood bank, serology, and bacteriology.
  • Work full-time as an evening/night shift generalist rotating through hematology, urinalysis, serology, chemistry, blood bank and microbiology.
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Laboratory coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Lead a team to decide on an optimal LIS.
  • Manage curriculum development, authore and publish lab manuals in physiology and ecology.
  • Prepare and audit patient charts according to HIPAA compliance.
  • Reject patient specimen samples that do not meet CLIA requirements.
  • Maintain records and training for all CLIA waive testing for all practice employees.
  • Follow EPA and OSHA mandates to ensure the proper and safe disposal of hazardous samples and waste.
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Medical technologist vs laboratory coordinator skills

Common medical technologist skills
  • Patients, 10%
  • Clinical Laboratory, 8%
  • ASCP, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Microbiology, 4%
Common laboratory coordinator skills
  • Lab Equipment, 15%
  • Patients, 13%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Chemistry, 6%
  • Laboratory Safety, 3%
  • CLIA, 3%

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