Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between analytical technicians and 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 technician, becoming a laboratory technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an analytical technician has an average salary of $69,177, which is higher than the $40,038 average annual salary of a laboratory technician.
The top three skills for an analytical technician include lab equipment, HPLC and SQL. The most important skills for a laboratory technician are patients, lab equipment, and customer service.
| Analytical Technician | Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $69,177 | $40,038 |
| Hourly rate | $33.26 | $19.25 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 48,581 | 84,357 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
Analytical technicians are professionals who are responsible for managing the daily operation of activities in a laboratory as well as maintain lab equipment to ensure a high standard of sanitation. These technicians must assist in laboratory work, such as developing analytical test methods and performing analysis of raw materials and in-process samples. They are required to maintain relevant files and data records but should inform the laboratory manager when they are faced with technical problems. Analytical technicians should also determine the physical and chemical properties of compounds by using quantitative and qualitative analyses.
Laboratory technicians are medical professionals who work in the laboratory. They are responsible for the equipment in the laboratory, making sure tools are properly sanitized and sterilized after every use. They also ensure that laboratory equipment works well. Laboratory technicians may also be responsible for collecting and testing samples from patients. They prepare solutions and other chemicals that may be needed for testing. They also provide an analysis of the samples that they tested. Laboratory technicians ensure that all items in the laboratory are properly labeled and organized.
Analytical technicians and laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Analytical Technician | Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $69,177 | $40,038 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $114,000 | Between $27,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hartford, CT | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Meta | Tenaska |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an analytical technician and a laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Analytical Technician | Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Biology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | New York University |
Here are the differences between analytical technicians' and laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Analytical Technician | Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% | Male, 53.3% Female, 46.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 8.4% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |