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The differences between assistant laboratory technicians and clinical laboratory assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an assistant laboratory technician and a clinical laboratory assistant. Additionally, an assistant laboratory technician has an average salary of $35,556, which is higher than the $32,679 average annual salary of a clinical laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for an assistant laboratory technician include patients, ladders and computer lab. The most important skills for a clinical laboratory assistant are patients, phlebotomy, and clinical lab.
| Assistant Laboratory Technician | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $35,556 | $32,679 |
| Hourly rate | $17.09 | $15.71 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 116,488 | 108,124 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
The primary responsibility of a lab assistant is to help scientists and technologists. Lab assistants are assigned to prepare and monitor tests and experiments in research or medical laboratory. They analyze data and establish reports based on test results. Also, they set up the tools and equipment used in the lab. It is also part of their job to clean the lab rooms--knowledge in lab management, communication skills, attention to detail, and medical-related management.
A clinical laboratory assistant specializes in performing support tasks in a laboratory or similar setting using their in-depth knowledge. They are primarily responsible for assisting researchers, preparing samples and apparatus, conducting experiments and analysis, maintaining extensive documentation of all processes and results, and reporting to management. Moreover, a clinical laboratory assistant is also responsible for gathering necessary information before beginning studies and maintaining the laboratory's cleanliness and sanitation. It is vital to implement all the safety rules and regulations to ensure a safe and productive work environment.
Assistant laboratory technicians and clinical laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistant Laboratory Technician | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $35,556 | $32,679 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $57,000 | Between $26,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Manchester, NH | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Patterson-UTI Energy | Roswell Park |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between an assistant laboratory technician and a clinical laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Assistant Laboratory Technician | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Maryland - College Park | New York University |
Here are the differences between assistant laboratory technicians' and clinical laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Assistant Laboratory Technician | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.6% Female, 28.4% | Male, 25.4% Female, 74.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.1% White, 54.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |