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The differences between pathologists and phlebotomists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a pathologist, becoming a phlebotomist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a pathologist has an average salary of $61,808, which is higher than the $33,713 average annual salary of a phlebotomist.
The top three skills for a pathologist include patients, patient care and diagnosis. The most important skills for a phlebotomist are patients, customer service, and blood samples.
| Pathologist | Phlebotomist | |
| Yearly salary | $61,808 | $33,713 |
| Hourly rate | $29.72 | $16.21 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 20,340 | 11,707 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Associate Degree, 22% |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
Pathologists are medical healthcare professionals who are responsible for conducting examinations of bodies and body tissues. These pathologists must perform laboratory tests of body fluids and tissues to help primary care doctors make a diagnosis about the health of patients who are with chronic conditions. They specialize in genetic testing that will examine a tissue biopsy to determine whether a tumor is benign or cancerous. Pathologists must also perform autopsies to inform family members of the deceased about the cause of death and help them take preventive action for their own health.
Phlebotomists are workers in the medical field who specialize in drawing blood from patients. They ensure that patients are prepared by explaining the procedure to them, showing them tools they will use and where their blood will be stored, and answering any questions the patients may have. Phlebotomists then draw blood from the patient, patch up the area where the blood was drawn, and store the blood samples in properly labeled vials or blood bags. After the procedure, they send the blood samples to the laboratory for testing, transfusion, or any other use that there may be.
Pathologists and phlebotomists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pathologist | Phlebotomist | |
| Average salary | $61,808 | $33,713 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $148,000 | Between $26,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | UT Medical Group, Inc. | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a pathologist and a phlebotomist in terms of educational background:
| Pathologist | Phlebotomist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Associate Degree, 22% |
| Most common major | Physiology And Anatomy | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | Stanford University | - |
Here are the differences between pathologists' and phlebotomists' demographics:
| Pathologist | Phlebotomist | |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3% | Male, 16.7% Female, 83.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 20.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.7% Asian, 9.3% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 8% |