Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between analytical laboratory technicians and senior 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 an analytical laboratory technician, becoming a senior laboratory technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a senior laboratory technician has an average salary of $48,530, 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 a senior laboratory technician are lab equipment, patients, and research projects.
| Analytical Laboratory Technician | Senior Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $41,538 | $48,530 |
| Hourly rate | $19.97 | $23.33 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 50,750 | 63,876 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
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.
A Senior Laboratory Technician is responsible for supervising and coordinating scientific investigations and experiments. They supervise staff, provide technical support, and construct, maintain, and operate standard laboratory equipment.
Analytical laboratory technicians and senior laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Analytical Laboratory Technician | Senior Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $41,538 | $48,530 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $53,000 | Between $34,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Elizabethtown, KY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | California |
| Best paying company | Zoetis | Genentech |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an analytical laboratory technician and a senior laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Analytical Laboratory Technician | Senior Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Biology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | New York University |
Here are the differences between analytical laboratory technicians' and senior laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Analytical Laboratory Technician | Senior Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.0% Female, 45.0% | Male, 58.6% Female, 41.4% |
| 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, 10.5% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |