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The differences between specimen technicians and clinical 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 a clinical technician. Additionally, a specimen technician has an average salary of $39,267, which is higher than the $35,760 average annual salary of a clinical technician.
The top three skills for a specimen technician include patients, data entry and medical terminology. The most important skills for a clinical technician are patients, vital signs, and phlebotomy.
| Specimen Technician | Clinical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $39,267 | $35,760 |
| Hourly rate | $18.88 | $17.19 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 79,207 | 161,812 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| 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 technician is responsible for operating and maintaining clinical equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of all laboratory tools and kits to avoid contamination during medical procedures. Clinical technicians assist the patients with their medical inquiries and needs, collecting samples for laboratory, and helping medical professionals on surgeries and other medical operations. They also maintain medical charts, update patients' information on the database, and administer patients' medication. A clinical technician must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry, as well as strictly following internal guidelines and safety procedures during operations.
Specimen technicians and clinical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Specimen Technician | Clinical Technician | |
| Average salary | $39,267 | $35,760 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $53,000 | Between $26,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Integrated Resources | Brigham and Women's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between a specimen technician and a clinical technician in terms of educational background:
| Specimen Technician | Clinical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Biology | Nursing |
| Most common college | New York University | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between specimen technicians' and clinical technicians' demographics:
| Specimen Technician | Clinical Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4% | Male, 26.6% Female, 73.4% |
| 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, 12.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 11.2% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |