Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between phlebotomy technicians and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a phlebotomy technician and a certified medical technician. Additionally, a certified medical technician has an average salary of $38,859, which is higher than the $34,725 average annual salary of a phlebotomy technician.
The top three skills for a phlebotomy technician include patients, infection control and blood specimens. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.
| Phlebotomy Technician | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $34,725 | $38,859 |
| Hourly rate | $16.69 | $18.68 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 107,110 | 164,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 18% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A phlebotomy technician is responsible for conducting the medical procedure of drawing blood samples using extraction tools and other equipment. Phlebotomy technicians label the samples for laboratory examinations, donation testing, and other related purposes. They also inspect and maintain the cleanliness of medical equipment, including sterilization of needles and other tools, to avoid contamination that would affect the accuracy of the results. A phlebotomy technician records fluid tests and procedures for reference and patient examination history.
Certified Medical Technicians are specialists in medical diagnoses by performing laboratory testing and analysis for hospitals and physicians. Their duties include lab sanitization to prepare for testing and collection, recording medical samples for testing, specimen preparation, blood drawing for donation and testing, and assisting physicians with sample collection as well as equipment handling in surgical rooms. They must also understand how to use complex and sensitive testing equipment such as cell counters, analyzers, microscopes, and centrifuges.
Phlebotomy technicians and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Phlebotomy Technician | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Average salary | $34,725 | $38,859 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $45,000 | Between $28,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Denton, TX |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a phlebotomy technician and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:
| Phlebotomy Technician | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 18% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Connecticut | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between phlebotomy technicians' and certified medical technicians' demographics:
| Phlebotomy Technician | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.3% Female, 83.7% | Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 15.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 10.0% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |