There are many careers you can choose from, but there are few sectors that offer the job security and variety that the medical field can offer.
There are hundreds of jobs with various different majors, from a medical laboratory technician to a pediatric doctor. Each of these jobs come with different requirements and necessary qualifications, but despite their differences all jobs in the medical field are going to be necessary and relevant (with significant room for expansion) for a long time to come. That can’t be said of all career choices. One of the most relevant of these medical roles is a careers as a medical laboratory technician.
You may be wondering what exactly is a medical technologist? To answer that question, you first need to answer the question of what is a medical technologist main job description. A medical technologist is very similar to a medical lab technician but with one slight difference. Technologists perform more intricate and involved tests than a medical lab technician is ever able too. They perform high level testing of blood, DNA, immune system testing and even bacterial testing. They will analyze the samples and cross check them for accuracy. They also use the more intricate machines like an automated analyzer, whereas a medical laboratory technician is usually taught to use simpler machinery in the beginning.
What is a medical technologist duties in the lab? In addition to testing duties they also oversee the medical laboratory technician. A medical laboratory technician will analyze body cells and fluids but they will not have the training needed to access the machines and data that a medical technologist has. This means that the technologist will perform managerial style duties and may check in on the work of a medical laboratory technician from time to time.
What is a medical technologist and medical laboratory technician education and school requirements? An entry level medical technologist will need to obtain a bachelor’s degree in medical technology. This will take about four years of college education. A certification test may also be required in some states before you can successfully obtain a job as a technologist. This test can be taken after you have graduated from an accepted program. A medical laboratory technician can get either a certificate or an associate’s degree. This will take one to two years depending on the program you choose.
What is a medical technologist salary and income potential? The average salary for a medical technologist is approximately $56,000 per year, however the salary will depend largely on how many years of experience you have, your certifications, and the area in which you work. The top paying states for medical technologists are Washington, DC at $65,000 per year, Nevada at $68,000 per year and California at $75,000 per year. Aside from that, New York, California and Texas all have the highest job potential with upwards of 10,000 jobs in each state.
As a medical laboratory technician, you can expect an average salary of about $38,000 per year. This will depend on what type of organization you work for, the state you work in, and the amount of experience that you have. The top paying states for a technician are Connecticut at $45,000 per year, Washington, DC at $48,000 per year and Rhode Island at $59,000 per year. Massachusetts, Tennessee and Georgia have the highest amount of jobs available with more than 6,000 available jobs in each state.
Where is a medical technologists main workplace? Both medical technologists and technicians primarily work in the hospital or lab sector. Though many can find jobs in doctors offices and other types of facilities, the majority of jobs are in hospital labs. More than 60% of lab workers are employed by hospitals. There are many different jobs available for both technologists and technicians but more often than not they will work in large laboratories, such as those you find in larger hospitals.
What is a medical technologist and medical laboratory technicians job outlook for the future? Currently, there are more than 164,000 jobs available for technologists and 150,000 jobs available for technicians in the US. Both of these career paths are to see expansion within the next six years. Technicians will see an expansion of 16 percent while technologists are expected to see an expansion of 12 percent in the job market. This means that not only are there currently a wide range of jobs to choose from, there are also many more jobs that are going to be added in the coming years.
How do I know which I should become? While both jobs are similar, you will need to decide if you want to endure the extra education and job requirements that is required to become a technologist. You will not only perform more intricate testing procedures, but you will also be in charge of one or more medical laboratory technicians.
You may want to first become a medical laboratory technician and learn the job before you go back to school to become a technologist. While there are requirements needed for both careers, they both offer a career with a lot of earning potential and an interesting job that will always keep you on your feet. It all comes down to how much research and training you want to undertake before you get a job.
There are many medical careers out there to choose from, but working in a medical lab can offer you unrivalled benefits such as a good salary, a stable work environment and a way to you to be constantly kept on your toes. If you are the type of person that likes to test things, analyze and diagnose problems and their solutions, and follow rules and guidelines to an intricate degree, then a job as a medical laboratory technician or technologist may be the perfect career choice for you.
There is a lot of room for advancement in the laboratory sector. You can eventually, with the right level of determination, become the manager of the lab and not only increase your abilities and responsibilities but also double (or even triple) your salary. This is a job that will always be needed and in demand. Go out there and get a step-up on your career today!