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The differences between specimen technicians and assistant laboratory 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 specimen technician and an assistant laboratory technician. Additionally, a specimen technician has an average salary of $39,267, which is higher than the $35,556 average annual salary of an assistant laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a specimen technician include patients, data entry and medical terminology. The most important skills for an assistant laboratory technician are patients, ladders, and computer lab.
| Specimen Technician | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $39,267 | $35,556 |
| Hourly rate | $18.88 | $17.09 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 79,207 | 116,488 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A specimen technician is responsible for processing a human's medical sample and specimen in a laboratory setting to diagnose medical conditions and identify treatment plans. Specimen technicians operate various laboratory tools and equipment, requiring them to strictly adhere to safety guidelines and protocols to avoid potential hazards and potential disease contamination. They also record laboratory findings accurately and write comprehensive reports for the patients' and doctors' reference. A specimen technician may refer test results to other institutions for second opinions as needed for further investigation before the release of findings.
The primary responsibility of a lab assistant is to help scientists and technologists. Lab assistants are assigned to prepare and monitor tests and experiments in research or medical laboratory. They analyze data and establish reports based on test results. Also, they set up the tools and equipment used in the lab. It is also part of their job to clean the lab rooms--knowledge in lab management, communication skills, attention to detail, and medical-related management.
Specimen technicians and assistant laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Specimen Technician | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $39,267 | $35,556 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $53,000 | Between $21,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | Manchester, NH |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Integrated Resources | Patterson-UTI Energy |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a specimen technician and an assistant laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Specimen Technician | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | University of Maryland - College Park |
Here are the differences between specimen technicians' and assistant laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Specimen Technician | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4% | Male, 71.6% Female, 28.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |