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The differences between senior medical technologists and molecular technologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a senior medical technologist and a molecular technologist. Additionally, a senior medical technologist has an average salary of $60,849, which is higher than the $54,483 average annual salary of a molecular technologist.
The top three skills for a senior medical technologist include customer service, blood pressure and OSHA. The most important skills for a molecular technologist are clinical laboratory, next-generation sequencing, and molecular biology.
| Senior Medical Technologist | Molecular Technologist | |
| Yearly salary | $60,849 | $54,483 |
| Hourly rate | $29.25 | $26.19 |
| Growth rate | - | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 113,217 | 76,319 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A senior medical technologist specializes in gathering and analyzing blood and bodily samples through a variety of laboratory experiments. They mostly work at hospitals and medical laboratories, working together with other laboratory professionals and physicians. Among their responsibilities include obtaining samples from patients, identifying cell structures and abnormalities, documenting every procedure and observation, and presenting detailed and summarized reports to physicians or patients promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as a senior medical technologist, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to junior medical technologists while implementing the facility's policies and regulations.
A molecular technologist is responsible for conducting laboratory examinations for clinical trials and medical research. Molecular technologists collect laboratory samples and document scientific findings to support claims and initial theories. They also utilize various advanced laboratory equipment and machinery, requiring them to have excellent knowledge of organizational skills to prevent potential hazards and inconsistencies in results. A molecular technologist works with chemical solutions and sensitive samples, resulting in strict compliance and adherence to safety protocols and regulations.
Senior medical technologists and molecular technologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Medical Technologist | Molecular Technologist | |
| Average salary | $60,849 | $54,483 |
| Salary range | Between $44,000 And $84,000 | Between $36,000 And $81,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Baptist Health Care | Columbia University in the City of New York |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Education |
There are a few differences between a senior medical technologist and a molecular technologist in terms of educational background:
| Senior Medical Technologist | Molecular Technologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Biology |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between senior medical technologists' and molecular technologists' demographics:
| Senior Medical Technologist | Molecular Technologist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4% | Male, 42.0% Female, 58.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 15.0% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |