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The differences between specimen technicians and 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 a laboratory technician. Additionally, a laboratory technician has an average salary of $40,038, which is higher than the $39,267 average annual salary of a specimen technician.
The top three skills for a specimen technician include patients, data entry and medical terminology. The most important skills for a laboratory technician are patients, lab equipment, and customer service.
| Specimen Technician | Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $39,267 | $40,038 |
| Hourly rate | $18.88 | $19.25 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 79,207 | 84,357 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| 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 technicians are medical professionals who work in the laboratory. They are responsible for the equipment in the laboratory, making sure tools are properly sanitized and sterilized after every use. They also ensure that laboratory equipment works well. Laboratory technicians may also be responsible for collecting and testing samples from patients. They prepare solutions and other chemicals that may be needed for testing. They also provide an analysis of the samples that they tested. Laboratory technicians ensure that all items in the laboratory are properly labeled and organized.
Specimen technicians and laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Specimen Technician | Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $39,267 | $40,038 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $53,000 | Between $27,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Integrated Resources | Tenaska |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a specimen technician and a laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Specimen Technician | Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | New York University |
Here are the differences between specimen technicians' and laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Specimen Technician | Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4% | Male, 53.3% Female, 46.7% |
| 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, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |