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The differences between specimen technicians and clinical laboratory assistants 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 a clinical laboratory assistant. Additionally, a specimen technician has an average salary of $39,267, which is higher than the $32,679 average annual salary of a clinical laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a specimen technician include patients, data entry and medical terminology. The most important skills for a clinical laboratory assistant are patients, phlebotomy, and clinical lab.
| Specimen Technician | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $39,267 | $32,679 |
| Hourly rate | $18.88 | $15.71 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 79,207 | 108,124 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| 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.
A clinical laboratory assistant specializes in performing support tasks in a laboratory or similar setting using their in-depth knowledge. They are primarily responsible for assisting researchers, preparing samples and apparatus, conducting experiments and analysis, maintaining extensive documentation of all processes and results, and reporting to management. Moreover, a clinical laboratory assistant is also responsible for gathering necessary information before beginning studies and maintaining the laboratory's cleanliness and sanitation. It is vital to implement all the safety rules and regulations to ensure a safe and productive work environment.
Specimen technicians and clinical laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Specimen Technician | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $39,267 | $32,679 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $53,000 | Between $26,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Integrated Resources | Roswell Park |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a specimen technician and a clinical laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Specimen Technician | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | New York University |
Here are the differences between specimen technicians' and clinical laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Specimen Technician | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4% | Male, 25.4% Female, 74.6% |
| 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, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.1% White, 54.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |