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The differences between biology laboratory technicians and laboratory technicians 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 technician, becoming a laboratory technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a laboratory technician has an average salary of $40,038, which is higher than the $38,514 average annual salary of a biology laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a biology laboratory technician include lab equipment, molecular biology and chemistry. The most important skills for a laboratory technician are patients, lab equipment, and customer service.
| Biology Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,514 | $40,038 |
| Hourly rate | $18.52 | $19.25 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 45,470 | 84,357 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
A biological technician assists medical and biological scientists in conducting laboratory experiments and tests. As a biological technician, you will perform a variety of tasks that include setting up, maintaining, and cleaning laboratory equipment and instruments such as test tubes and microscopes, collecting and preparing biological samples, and analyzing experimental data, and interpreting results. In addition, you will assist medical scientists by administering new treatments and medicines to laboratory animals. You will also perform different techniques such as specimen staining to aid identification.
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.
Biology laboratory technicians and laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biology Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,514 | $40,038 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $50,000 | Between $27,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | South San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | University of California | Tenaska |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a biology laboratory technician and a laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Biology Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Cornell University | New York University |
Here are the differences between biology laboratory technicians' and laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Biology Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% | Male, 53.3% Female, 46.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 12.7% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% | 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 | 6% | 8% |