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The differences between research biologists and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a research biologist, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a research biologist has an average salary of $69,719, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.
The top three skills for a research biologist include laboratory equipment, research projects and molecular biology. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.
| Research Biologist | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $69,719 | $38,859 |
| Hourly rate | $33.52 | $18.68 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 52,799 | 164,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 12 |
A research biologist is a scientist who works in the outdoors, laboratories, and offices to study the natural elements so that they can better understand how living organisms work. Research biologists must design experiments for various research projects conducted under standard operating procedures and good laboratory practice guidelines. They are required to supervise lab technicians and veterinary medicine students in their respective research projects and studies. Research biologists must also provide support for clinical research protocols through laboratory procedures and protocols.
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.
Research biologists and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Biologist | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Average salary | $69,719 | $38,859 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $96,000 | Between $28,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Juneau, AK | Denton, TX |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Eli Lilly and Company | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a research biologist and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:
| Research Biologist | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Most common major | Biology | Nursing |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between research biologists' and certified medical technicians' demographics:
| Research Biologist | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.9% Female, 55.1% | Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 15.7% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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 | 10% | 8% |