Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between microbiology laboratory assistants and clinical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a microbiology laboratory assistant and a clinical technician. Additionally, a clinical technician has an average salary of $35,760, which is higher than the $32,736 average annual salary of a microbiology laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a microbiology laboratory assistant include patients, lab equipment and data entry. The most important skills for a clinical technician are patients, vital signs, and phlebotomy.
| Microbiology Laboratory Assistant | Clinical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $32,736 | $35,760 |
| Hourly rate | $15.74 | $17.19 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 49,910 | 161,812 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Microbiology Laboratory Assistants are responsible for assisting laboratory technicians with sample preparation and workplace maintenance in the area of microbiology. Their duties include preparing samples for testing, maintaining laboratory inventory, reporting inventory shortages, and producing inventory reports. Besides that, they are involved in organizing laboratory areas, sterilizing laboratory equipment, and maintain testings log. Microbiology Laboratory Assistants also assist in equipment set up, results analysis, and sample classification. They continuously ensure the operational environment complies with health and safety standards.
A clinical technician is responsible for operating and maintaining clinical equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of all laboratory tools and kits to avoid contamination during medical procedures. Clinical technicians assist the patients with their medical inquiries and needs, collecting samples for laboratory, and helping medical professionals on surgeries and other medical operations. They also maintain medical charts, update patients' information on the database, and administer patients' medication. A clinical technician must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry, as well as strictly following internal guidelines and safety procedures during operations.
Microbiology laboratory assistants and clinical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Microbiology Laboratory Assistant | Clinical Technician | |
| Average salary | $32,736 | $35,760 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $48,000 | Between $26,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Brigham and Women's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a microbiology laboratory assistant and a clinical technician in terms of educational background:
| Microbiology Laboratory Assistant | Clinical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Biology | Nursing |
| Most common college | New York University | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between microbiology laboratory assistants' and clinical technicians' demographics:
| Microbiology Laboratory Assistant | Clinical Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.2% Female, 66.8% | Male, 26.6% Female, 73.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 12.2% White, 54.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 11.2% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |