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The differences between medical technologists and phlebotomists 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 phlebotomist. Additionally, a medical technologist has an average salary of $53,249, which is higher than the $33,713 average annual salary of a phlebotomist.
The top three skills for a medical technologist include patients, clinical laboratory and ASCP. The most important skills for a phlebotomist are patients, customer service, and blood samples.
| Medical Technologist | Phlebotomist | |
| Yearly salary | $53,249 | $33,713 |
| Hourly rate | $25.60 | $16.21 |
| Growth rate | - | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 116,495 | 11,707 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 4.4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Associate Degree, 22% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
Phlebotomists are workers in the medical field who specialize in drawing blood from patients. They ensure that patients are prepared by explaining the procedure to them, showing them tools they will use and where their blood will be stored, and answering any questions the patients may have. Phlebotomists then draw blood from the patient, patch up the area where the blood was drawn, and store the blood samples in properly labeled vials or blood bags. After the procedure, they send the blood samples to the laboratory for testing, transfusion, or any other use that there may be.
Medical technologists and phlebotomists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Technologist | Phlebotomist | |
| Average salary | $53,249 | $33,713 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $68,000 | Between $26,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Children's Hospital Colorado | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a medical technologist and a phlebotomist in terms of educational background:
| Medical Technologist | Phlebotomist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Associate Degree, 22% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | - |
Here are the differences between medical technologists' and phlebotomists' demographics:
| Medical Technologist | Phlebotomist | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5% | Male, 16.7% Female, 83.3% |
| 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, 9.1% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.7% Asian, 9.3% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |