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The differences between pathologist assistants and medical assistant/phlebotomists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a pathologist assistant and a medical assistant/phlebotomist. Additionally, a pathologist assistant has an average salary of $50,079, which is higher than the $33,674 average annual salary of a medical assistant/phlebotomist.
The top three skills for a pathologist assistant include ASCP, patients and PA. The most important skills for a medical assistant/phlebotomist are patients, vital signs, and customer service.
| Pathologist Assistant | Medical Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Yearly salary | $50,079 | $33,674 |
| Hourly rate | $24.08 | $16.19 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 62,900 | 189,206 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Associate Degree, 23% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A pathologist assistant is responsible for helping pathologists in conducting laboratory investigations by studying human specimens and surgical biopsies for diagnosis and identify a person's cause of death. Pathologist assistants perform autopsy functions under the supervision of the pathologist, following the strict safety protocols and regulations. They must have excellent organizational skills, especially in operating various equipment to prevent potential hazards and disease contamination. A pathologist assistant creates a comprehensive report of findings for the pathologist's review before releasing the final records.
Medical assistants/phlebotomists are medical personnel who execute administrative and clinical tasks in healthcare facilities or units. They are responsible for providing healthcare to patients such as immunization administration, orthopedic supplies, and wound care. It is part of their job to take the blood of patients for blood testing. They also take charge of handling other medical tests for the upkeep of patients' health. These professionals should exhibit compatibility, initiative, and cohesiveness within the team.
Pathologist assistants and medical assistant/phlebotomists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pathologist Assistant | Medical Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Average salary | $50,079 | $33,674 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $101,000 | Between $27,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Essentia Health | Conviva |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Finance |
There are a few differences between a pathologist assistant and a medical assistant/phlebotomist in terms of educational background:
| Pathologist Assistant | Medical Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Associate Degree, 23% |
| Most common major | Biology | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between pathologist assistants' and medical assistant/phlebotomists' demographics:
| Pathologist Assistant | Medical Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.4% Female, 60.6% | Male, 11.4% Female, 88.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 22.6% Asian, 9.7% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.7% Asian, 8.6% White, 51.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |