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The differences between assistant laboratory managers and laboratory managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an assistant laboratory manager, becoming a laboratory manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a laboratory manager has an average salary of $74,314, which is higher than the $51,817 average annual salary of an assistant laboratory manager.
The top three skills for an assistant laboratory manager include lab equipment, test results and chemistry. The most important skills for a laboratory manager are lab equipment, patients, and customer service.
| Assistant Laboratory Manager | Laboratory Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $51,817 | $74,314 |
| Hourly rate | $24.91 | $35.73 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 39,463 | 43,321 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
An assistant laboratory manager performs support tasks to assist the laboratory manager in overseeing laboratory projects and operations. Their job entails working together with the laboratory manager in developing and implementing strategies to optimize operations, managing budgets, setting objectives and guidelines, delegating responsibilities among teams, and solving issues and concerns. There are also times when an assistant laboratory manager must train new members of the workforce, liaise and build positive relationships with external parties, purchase equipment, and run errands when necessary.
Laboratory managers provide accurate laboratory diagnosis through evaluating specimen procedures and coordinating with pathologists to validate laboratory findings. They are responsible for maintaining laboratory tools and equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of instruments before and after use, organizing equipment based on its function, and immediately repairing or replacing defective items. A laboratory manager also secures the confidentiality of laboratory systems, keeping records of results, and releasing information to the appropriate personnel. Laboratory managers must have a broad knowledge of the scientific industry, as well as excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills.
Assistant laboratory managers and laboratory managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistant Laboratory Manager | Laboratory Manager | |
| Average salary | $51,817 | $74,314 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $89,000 | Between $49,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | Urban Honolulu, HI | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Intertek | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between an assistant laboratory manager and a laboratory manager in terms of educational background:
| Assistant Laboratory Manager | Laboratory Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between assistant laboratory managers' and laboratory managers' demographics:
| Assistant Laboratory Manager | Laboratory Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.9% Female, 44.1% | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 70.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |