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The differences between medical technologists and medical laboratory 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 medical laboratory technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a medical technologist has an average salary of $53,249, which is higher than the $51,780 average annual salary of a medical laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a medical technologist include patients, clinical laboratory and ASCP. The most important skills for a medical laboratory technician are medical laboratory, patients, and ASCP.
| Medical Technologist | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $53,249 | $51,780 |
| Hourly rate | $25.60 | $24.89 |
| Growth rate | - | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 116,495 | 88,721 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 3.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Associate Degree, 55% |
| 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 medical laboratory technician is responsible for assisting medical health professionals in conducting laboratory tests to diagnose patients' conditions and provide treatments. Medical laboratory technicians ensure the sanitation of all the tools and equipment before conducting tests. They collect adequate blood samples and specimens, analyze fluid elements, utilize laboratory equipment safely, create reports of findings, and alert medical personnel and medical technologists of emergency conditions. A medical laboratory technician must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry disciplines and processes to perform sensitive tasks and release accurate medical results.
Medical technologists and medical laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Technologist | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $53,249 | $51,780 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $68,000 | Between $37,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Children's Hospital Colorado | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a medical technologist and a medical laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Medical Technologist | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Associate Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of Maryland - College Park |
Here are the differences between medical technologists' and medical laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Medical Technologist | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5% | Male, 29.3% Female, 70.7% |
| 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, 11.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |