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The differences between pathological technicians and laboratory assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a pathological technician and a laboratory assistant. Additionally, a pathological technician has an average salary of $50,684, which is higher than the $34,168 average annual salary of a laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a pathological technician include clinical laboratory, patients and specimen handling. The most important skills for a laboratory assistant are patients, phlebotomy, and customer service.
| Pathological Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $50,684 | $34,168 |
| Hourly rate | $24.37 | $16.43 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 69,003 | 50,853 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Pathology technicians, or sometimes referred to as pathology assistants, are professionals who assist pathologists review specimens and tissue samples by utilizing microscopes and other complex lab equipment. These technicians are required to audit lab equipment in the inventory system and provide minor maintenance and calibrations on the lab equipment to avoid errors in test results. They are required to evaluate laboratory test results and record known control values from technical instruments to ensure reliability. Pathological technicians must also handle and organize blood samples taken for pharmacological studies.
Laboratory assistants work for researchers, scientists, or professors in the laboratory setting. They are expected to have a solid background in the field of study of the laboratory they are assigned to. They do a variety of tasks in the laboratory, such as setting up equipment, observing experiments, analyzing results, creating reports, and recommending improvements to the testing. They may also be assigned to clean and sanitize laboratory equipment as needed. Laboratory assistants should have good research skills, analytical skills, and organizational skills.
Pathological technicians and laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pathological Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $50,684 | $34,168 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $69,000 | Between $26,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Battelle | UST Global |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a pathological technician and a laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Pathological Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | New York University |
Here are the differences between pathological technicians' and laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Pathological Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.8% Female, 67.2% | Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 12.0% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 13.9% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |