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The differences between biology laboratory technicians and research 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 research technician. Additionally, a research technician has an average salary of $43,034, 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 research technician are patients, data collection, and cell culture.
| Biology Laboratory Technician | Research Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,514 | $43,034 |
| Hourly rate | $18.52 | $20.69 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 45,470 | 64,786 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| 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 research technician is responsible for assisting in research studies and laboratory experiments. Research technicians operate laboratory tools and equipment, process data for experiments, collect samples for study, analyze existing research materials, analyze experiment results, manage inventories and stock supplies, record observations, and create reports for further examination. A research technician must have strong analytical and scientific knowledge, as well as a passion for research writing and investigations crucial for this kind of industry.
Biology laboratory technicians and research technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biology Laboratory Technician | Research Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,514 | $43,034 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $50,000 | Between $31,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | South San Francisco, CA | Pasadena, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | University of California | GCP Applied Technologies |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a biology laboratory technician and a research technician in terms of educational background:
| Biology Laboratory Technician | Research Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between biology laboratory technicians' and research technicians' demographics:
| Biology Laboratory Technician | Research Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% | Male, 49.3% Female, 50.7% |
| 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, 12.0% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 16.5% White, 49.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |