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The differences between phlebotomists and medical laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a phlebotomist, becoming a medical laboratory technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a medical laboratory technician has an average salary of $51,780, which is higher than the $33,713 average annual salary of a phlebotomist.
The top three skills for a phlebotomist include patients, customer service and blood samples. The most important skills for a medical laboratory technician are medical laboratory, patients, and ASCP.
| Phlebotomist | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $33,713 | $51,780 |
| Hourly rate | $16.21 | $24.89 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 11,707 | 88,721 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.4 | 3.33 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 22% | Associate Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
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.
A medical laboratory technician is responsible for assisting medical health professionals in conducting laboratory tests to diagnose patients' conditions and provide treatments. Medical laboratory technicians ensure the sanitation of all the tools and equipment before conducting tests. They collect adequate blood samples and specimens, analyze fluid elements, utilize laboratory equipment safely, create reports of findings, and alert medical personnel and medical technologists of emergency conditions. A medical laboratory technician must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry disciplines and processes to perform sensitive tasks and release accurate medical results.
Phlebotomists and medical laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Phlebotomist | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $33,713 | $51,780 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $42,000 | Between $37,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a phlebotomist and a medical laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Phlebotomist | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 22% | Associate Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science |
| Most common college | - | University of Maryland - College Park |
Here are the differences between phlebotomists' and medical laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Phlebotomist | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.7% Female, 83.3% | Male, 29.3% Female, 70.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |