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The differences between technical laboratory specialists and medical laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a technical laboratory specialist, becoming a medical laboratory technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a technical laboratory specialist has an average salary of $59,377, which is higher than the $51,780 average annual salary of a medical laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a technical laboratory specialist include clinical laboratory, patients and chemistry. The most important skills for a medical laboratory technician are medical laboratory, patients, and ASCP.
| Technical Laboratory Specialist | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $59,377 | $51,780 |
| Hourly rate | $28.55 | $24.89 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 147,595 | 88,721 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Associate Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A Technical Laboratory Specialist is a skilled worker who performs technical diagnostic or mechanical tests in scientific or medical laboratories. Technical laboratory specialists sample, test, measure, record, and analyze results as part of the scientific team. Their job involves technical support so that laboratories can operate effectively according to the right health and safety guidelines and procedures. For this job, one should develop administrative skills, knowledge in mathematics, use initiative, and focus on details.
A medical laboratory technician is responsible for assisting medical health professionals in conducting laboratory tests to diagnose patients' conditions and provide treatments. Medical laboratory technicians ensure the sanitation of all the tools and equipment before conducting tests. They collect adequate blood samples and specimens, analyze fluid elements, utilize laboratory equipment safely, create reports of findings, and alert medical personnel and medical technologists of emergency conditions. A medical laboratory technician must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry disciplines and processes to perform sensitive tasks and release accurate medical results.
Technical laboratory specialists and medical laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Laboratory Specialist | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $59,377 | $51,780 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $88,000 | Between $37,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Burlingame, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Sutter Health | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a technical laboratory specialist and a medical laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Technical Laboratory Specialist | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Associate Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Biology | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Maryland - College Park |
Here are the differences between technical laboratory specialists' and medical laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Technical Laboratory Specialist | Medical Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.0% Female, 45.0% | Male, 29.3% Female, 70.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 11.6% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |