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The differences between specimen technicians and technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a specimen technician, becoming a technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a specimen technician has an average salary of $39,267, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.
The top three skills for a specimen technician include patients, data entry and medical terminology. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Specimen Technician | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $39,267 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $18.88 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 79,207 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
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.
Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Specimen technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Specimen Technician | Technician | |
| Average salary | $39,267 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $53,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Integrated Resources | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a specimen technician and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Specimen Technician | Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Biology | Business |
| Most common college | New York University | - |
Here are the differences between specimen technicians' and technicians' demographics:
| Specimen Technician | Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| 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, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 2% |