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The differences between pathological technicians and medical technologists 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 medical technologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a medical technologist has an average salary of $53,249, 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 medical technologist are patients, clinical laboratory, and ASCP.
| Pathological Technician | Medical Technologist | |
| Yearly salary | $50,684 | $53,249 |
| Hourly rate | $24.37 | $25.60 |
| Growth rate | 1% | - |
| Number of jobs | 69,003 | 116,495 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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 medical technologist's role is to conduct laboratory tests with accuracy and speed. It is their responsibility to gather, prepare, and analyze samples such as blood, tissues, and bodily fluid. The produced results will be crucial to a patient's diagnosis and further treatments. It is also essential for medical technologists to keep a precise record of data and coordinate with fellow team members and physicians to ensure the fast and efficient delivery of results. Furthermore, a medical technologist can choose to work in different establishments such as a hospital, laboratory, or private clinic.
Pathological technicians and medical technologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pathological Technician | Medical Technologist | |
| Average salary | $50,684 | $53,249 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $69,000 | Between $41,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Battelle | Children's Hospital Colorado |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a pathological technician and a medical technologist in terms of educational background:
| Pathological Technician | Medical Technologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Biology | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | New York University | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between pathological technicians' and medical technologists' demographics:
| Pathological Technician | Medical Technologist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.8% Female, 67.2% | Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5% |
| 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, 11.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |