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The differences between technicians and medical technologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a technician and a medical technologist. Additionally, a medical technologist has an average salary of $53,249, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.
The top three skills for a technician include patients, customer service and patient care. The most important skills for a medical technologist are patients, clinical laboratory, and ASCP.
| Technician | Medical Technologist | |
| Yearly salary | $38,045 | $53,249 |
| Hourly rate | $18.29 | $25.60 |
| Growth rate | 1% | - |
| Number of jobs | 596,842 | 116,495 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A medical technologist's role is to conduct laboratory tests with accuracy and speed. It is their responsibility to gather, prepare, and analyze samples such as blood, tissues, and bodily fluid. The produced results will be crucial to a patient's diagnosis and further treatments. It is also essential for medical technologists to keep a precise record of data and coordinate with fellow team members and physicians to ensure the fast and efficient delivery of results. Furthermore, a medical technologist can choose to work in different establishments such as a hospital, laboratory, or private clinic.
Technicians and medical technologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technician | Medical Technologist | |
| Average salary | $38,045 | $53,249 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $58,000 | Between $41,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Children's Hospital Colorado |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a technician and a medical technologist in terms of educational background:
| Technician | Medical Technologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | - | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between technicians' and medical technologists' demographics:
| Technician | Medical Technologist | |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% | Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 8% |