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The differences between specimen technicians and 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 laboratory assistant. Additionally, a specimen technician has an average salary of $39,267, which is higher than the $34,168 average annual salary of a laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a specimen technician include patients, data entry and medical terminology. The most important skills for a laboratory assistant are patients, phlebotomy, and customer service.
| Specimen Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $39,267 | $34,168 |
| Hourly rate | $18.88 | $16.43 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 79,207 | 50,853 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| 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.
Laboratory assistants work for researchers, scientists, or professors in the laboratory setting. They are expected to have a solid background in the field of study of the laboratory they are assigned to. They do a variety of tasks in the laboratory, such as setting up equipment, observing experiments, analyzing results, creating reports, and recommending improvements to the testing. They may also be assigned to clean and sanitize laboratory equipment as needed. Laboratory assistants should have good research skills, analytical skills, and organizational skills.
Specimen technicians and laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Specimen Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $39,267 | $34,168 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $53,000 | Between $26,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Integrated Resources | UST Global |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a specimen technician and a laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Specimen Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | New York University |
Here are the differences between specimen technicians' and laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Specimen Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4% | Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4% |
| 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, 9.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 13.9% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |