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The differences between biology laboratory technicians and microbiology 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 technician and a microbiology technician. Additionally, a microbiology technician has an average salary of $40,084, 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 microbiology technician are lab equipment, test results, and laboratory procedures.
| Biology Laboratory Technician | Microbiology Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,514 | $40,084 |
| Hourly rate | $18.52 | $19.27 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 45,470 | 25,704 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A Microbiology Technician helps microbiologists and other scientists conduct experiments and other tests. They usually work in labs and examine microscopic subjects, such as diseases, fungi, and algae.
Biology laboratory technicians and microbiology technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biology Laboratory Technician | Microbiology Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,514 | $40,084 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $50,000 | Between $29,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | South San Francisco, CA | Central Islip, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | University of California | Thomas Jefferson University |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a biology laboratory technician and a microbiology technician in terms of educational background:
| Biology Laboratory Technician | Microbiology Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between biology laboratory technicians' and microbiology technicians' demographics:
| Biology Laboratory Technician | Microbiology Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% | Male, 40.8% Female, 59.2% |
| 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, 12.3% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 14.1% White, 51.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |