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The differences between pathological technicians and laboratory coordinators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a pathological technician, becoming a laboratory coordinator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a laboratory coordinator has an average salary of $52,690, which is higher than the $50,684 average annual salary of a pathological technician.
The top three skills for a pathological technician include clinical laboratory, patients and specimen handling. The most important skills for a laboratory coordinator are lab equipment, patients, and patient care.
| Pathological Technician | Laboratory Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $50,684 | $52,690 |
| Hourly rate | $24.37 | $25.33 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 69,003 | 64,914 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
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.
A laboratory coordinator is responsible for supporting laboratory examinations and experiments, collecting laboratory samples, and ensuring the efficiency and performance of laboratory tools and equipment. Laboratory coordinators maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the laboratory facility at all times to avoid contaminations and hazards that may affect laboratory results and accuracy of examinations. They also perform scientific processes under the supervision of a scientist or laboratory technicians and keep an organized report of findings in the database.
Pathological technicians and laboratory coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pathological Technician | Laboratory Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $50,684 | $52,690 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $69,000 | Between $38,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Battelle | AbbVie |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a pathological technician and a laboratory coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Pathological Technician | Laboratory Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between pathological technicians' and laboratory coordinators' demographics:
| Pathological Technician | Laboratory Coordinator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.8% Female, 67.2% | Male, 41.5% Female, 58.5% |
| 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, 10.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |