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The differences between biology laboratory assistants and microbiological laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a biology laboratory assistant and a microbiological laboratory technician. Additionally, a microbiological laboratory technician has an average salary of $38,713, 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 microbiological laboratory technician are microbiology lab, laboratory procedures, and aseptic technique.
| Biology Laboratory Assistant | Microbiological Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $34,240 | $38,713 |
| Hourly rate | $16.46 | $18.61 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 48,958 | 44,567 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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 microbiological laboratory technician specializes in handling and testing samples, ensuring accuracy and safety. Often working under the supervision of a more experienced scientist, a microbiological laboratory technician has the responsibility to operate various devices and machines, record all progress and data, review results, and produce reports and documentation. There are also instances when a technician must submit results within deadlines or follow a senior scientist's directives. Furthermore, it is essential to adhere to the safety policies and rules of the laboratory at all times.
Biology laboratory assistants and microbiological laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biology Laboratory Assistant | Microbiological Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $34,240 | $38,713 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $52,000 | Between $29,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bridgewater, MA | Burlington, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Massachusetts General Hospital | AstraZeneca |
| Best paying industry | Government | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a biology laboratory assistant and a microbiological laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Biology Laboratory Assistant | Microbiological Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between biology laboratory assistants' and microbiological laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Biology Laboratory Assistant | Microbiological Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.7% Female, 63.3% | Male, 36.0% Female, 64.0% |
| 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, 11.3% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 15.2% White, 51.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |