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The differences between medical technologists and pathologists 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 pathologist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a pathologist has an average salary of $61,808, 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 pathologist are patients, patient care, and diagnosis.
| Medical Technologist | Pathologist | |
| Yearly salary | $53,249 | $61,808 |
| Hourly rate | $25.60 | $29.72 |
| Growth rate | - | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 116,495 | 20,340 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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.
Pathologists are medical healthcare professionals who are responsible for conducting examinations of bodies and body tissues. These pathologists must perform laboratory tests of body fluids and tissues to help primary care doctors make a diagnosis about the health of patients who are with chronic conditions. They specialize in genetic testing that will examine a tissue biopsy to determine whether a tumor is benign or cancerous. Pathologists must also perform autopsies to inform family members of the deceased about the cause of death and help them take preventive action for their own health.
Medical technologists and pathologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Technologist | Pathologist | |
| Average salary | $53,249 | $61,808 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $68,000 | Between $25,000 And $148,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Children's Hospital Colorado | UT Medical Group, Inc. |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a medical technologist and a pathologist in terms of educational background:
| Medical Technologist | Pathologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Physiology And Anatomy |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between medical technologists' and pathologists' demographics:
| Medical Technologist | Pathologist | |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5% | Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3% |
| 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, 5.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 20.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 13% |