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The differences between biology laboratory assistants and laboratory assistant/phlebotomists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a biology laboratory assistant, becoming a laboratory assistant/phlebotomist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a laboratory assistant/phlebotomist has an average salary of $34,553, which is higher than the $34,240 average annual salary of a biology laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a biology laboratory assistant include lab equipment, biology laboratory and chemistry. The most important skills for a laboratory assistant/phlebotomist are patients, blood specimens, and customer service.
| Biology Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Yearly salary | $34,240 | $34,553 |
| Hourly rate | $16.46 | $16.61 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 48,958 | 74,428 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Associate Degree, 23% |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
A biology laboratory assistant is in charge of assisting scientists or researchers and performing laboratory support tasks on a daily basis. Their responsibilities include setting up and sanitizing equipment, preparing samples, maintaining documentation of all experiments and procedures, writing laboratory reports, and running errands as needed. There are also instances where they must update databases, answer calls and correspondence, and grade student papers. Furthermore, a biology laboratory assistant must maintain the cleanliness of laboratories, all while implementing its policies and regulations.
A laboratory assistant/phlebotomist is responsible for drawing blood samples and other laboratory tests, labeling specimens, and performing administrative and clerical duties as needed. Laboratory assistants/phlebotomists should ensure that the laboratory tools and equipment are stored and secured in a safe area, as well as regularly sterilizing testing tools to avoid contamination upon the use of the patients. They must be highly knowledgeable of the medical procedures and processes, responding to the patients' inquiries and concerns, and providing a timely update of medical results.
Biology laboratory assistants and laboratory assistant/phlebotomists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biology Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Average salary | $34,240 | $34,553 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $52,000 | Between $27,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bridgewater, MA | - |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | - |
| Best paying company | Massachusetts General Hospital | - |
| Best paying industry | Government | - |
There are a few differences between a biology laboratory assistant and a laboratory assistant/phlebotomist in terms of educational background:
| Biology Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Associate Degree, 23% |
| Most common major | Biology | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between biology laboratory assistants' and laboratory assistant/phlebotomists' demographics:
| Biology Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomist | |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.7% Female, 63.3% | Male, 17.1% Female, 82.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 13.7% Asian, 14.9% White, 50.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |