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The differences between medical technologist-microbiologies and 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-microbiology, becoming a laboratory technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a medical technologist-microbiology has an average salary of $55,441, which is higher than the $40,038 average annual salary of a laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a medical technologist-microbiology include ASCP, clinical laboratory and test results. The most important skills for a laboratory technician are patients, lab equipment, and customer service.
| Medical Technologist-Microbiology | Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $55,441 | $40,038 |
| Hourly rate | $26.65 | $19.25 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 113,355 | 84,357 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A Medical Technologist-Microbiology helps in the detection and diagnosis of diseases and infections through appropriate laboratory analyses. They perform a wide range of virological, mycological, bacteriological, and parasitological tests to provide information on the causes and progress of diseases.
Laboratory technicians are medical professionals who work in the laboratory. They are responsible for the equipment in the laboratory, making sure tools are properly sanitized and sterilized after every use. They also ensure that laboratory equipment works well. Laboratory technicians may also be responsible for collecting and testing samples from patients. They prepare solutions and other chemicals that may be needed for testing. They also provide an analysis of the samples that they tested. Laboratory technicians ensure that all items in the laboratory are properly labeled and organized.
Medical technologist-microbiologies and laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Technologist-Microbiology | Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $55,441 | $40,038 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $75,000 | Between $27,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Las Vegas, NV | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Methodist Health System | Tenaska |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a medical technologist-microbiology and a laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Medical Technologist-Microbiology | Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | New York University |
Here are the differences between medical technologist-microbiologies' and laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Medical Technologist-Microbiology | Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.5% Female, 75.5% | Male, 53.3% Female, 46.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |