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The differences between analytical laboratory technicians and analytical chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an analytical chemist has an average salary of $61,573, which is higher than the $41,538 average annual salary of an analytical laboratory technician.
The top three skills for an analytical laboratory technician include lab equipment, analytical lab and HPLC. The most important skills for an analytical chemist are method development, HPLC, and laboratory equipment.
| Analytical Laboratory Technician | Analytical Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $41,538 | $61,573 |
| Hourly rate | $19.97 | $29.60 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 50,750 | 14,661 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
An analytical laboratory technician is responsible for operating various equipment to perform laboratory research and investigations under a professional scientist's supervision. Analytical laboratory technicians ensure the laboratory and machinery's safety and cleanliness to avoid potential hazards and keep accurate laboratory results. They also manage the adequacy of laboratory inventories, create purchase requests, and document findings for reference. An analytical laboratory technician must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in performing examinations accordingly while following strict safety protocols and regulatory policies.
An Analytical Chemist uses a wide range of methods to investigate the chemical nature of substances. They analyze samples using different software, techniques, and equipment, and then interpret and report the results.
Analytical laboratory technicians and analytical chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Analytical Laboratory Technician | Analytical Chemist | |
| Average salary | $41,538 | $61,573 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $53,000 | Between $44,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | Elizabethtown, KY | Milford, MA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Zoetis | Micron Technology |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an analytical laboratory technician and an analytical chemist in terms of educational background:
| Analytical Laboratory Technician | Analytical Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between analytical laboratory technicians' and analytical chemists' demographics:
| Analytical Laboratory Technician | Analytical Chemist | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.0% Female, 45.0% | Male, 59.6% Female, 40.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 9.3% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 19.2% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |