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The differences between microbiologists and medical laboratory scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a microbiologist and a medical laboratory scientist. Additionally, a microbiologist has an average salary of $54,620, which is higher than the $54,377 average annual salary of a medical laboratory scientist.
The top three skills for a microbiologist include lab equipment, microbiology lab and environmental monitoring. The most important skills for a medical laboratory scientist are patients, ASCP, and clinical laboratory.
| Microbiologist | Medical Laboratory Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $54,620 | $54,377 |
| Hourly rate | $26.26 | $26.14 |
| Growth rate | 9% | - |
| Number of jobs | 11,444 | 121,913 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Microbiologists are responsible for studying the microscopic organisms causing infections and environmental damage, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Their work focuses on the identification and growth of these microbes to better understand their characteristics that may help in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious and bacterial diseases. They use sophisticated technologies and machinery to study microbes and perform their tasks. These scientists are also responsible for developing best practices and techniques for routine sampling and research. Microbiologists may work in various settings, including laboratories, research institutes, and hospitals.
As a medical laboratory scientist, you will be responsible for analyzing various types of body specimens, including blood, tissue, and urine. You will conduct scientific testing on samples and report the results to physicians. These results play an essential role in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions or illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes. Your duties and responsibilities may include maintaining laboratory equipment such as microscopes and cell counters, tracking patient outcomes, and conducting differential cell counts. You are also expected to oversee the work of laboratory technicians.
Microbiologists and medical laboratory scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Microbiologist | Medical Laboratory Scientist | |
| Average salary | $54,620 | $54,377 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $75,000 | Between $41,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Reno, NV |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Battelle | Eli Lilly and Company |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a microbiologist and a medical laboratory scientist in terms of educational background:
| Microbiologist | Medical Laboratory Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Biology | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between microbiologists' and medical laboratory scientists' demographics:
| Microbiologist | Medical Laboratory Scientist | |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% | Male, 33.7% Female, 66.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 13.6% White, 69.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 12.7% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 8% |