Chemical laboratory technician vs laboratory analyst

The differences between chemical laboratory technicians and laboratory analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a chemical laboratory technician and a laboratory analyst. Additionally, a laboratory analyst has an average salary of $44,024, which is higher than the $41,087 average annual salary of a chemical laboratory technician.

The top three skills for a chemical laboratory technician include lab equipment, routine maintenance and chemical analysis. The most important skills for a laboratory analyst are test methods, lab equipment, and lims.

Chemical laboratory technician vs laboratory analyst overview

	Chemical Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Analyst
Yearly salary	$41,087	$44,024
Hourly rate	$19.75	$21.17
Growth rate	4%	9%
Number of jobs	47,036	44,074
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age	44	38
Years of experience	2	2

What does a chemical laboratory technician do?

A chemical laboratory technician is in charge of performing support tasks for chemists in a laboratory or similar setting. Their duties and responsibilities typically revolve around handling and managing chemicals and laboratory apparatuses, gathering and preparing samples, performing analysis, operating machines and devices, and maintaining records of all procedures and results. They may also procure supplies, organize chemicals, and ensure proper waste disposal. Furthermore, as a chemical laboratory technician, it is essential to maintain the cleanliness and order in laboratories, all while implementing its policies and regulations.

What does a laboratory analyst do?

A Laboratory Analyst helps conduct experiments, run laboratory tests, and analyze results. They compile and record data for the documentation needed for testing and report preparation.

Chemical laboratory technician vs laboratory analyst salary

Chemical laboratory technicians and laboratory analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Chemical Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Analyst
Average salary	$41,087	$44,024
Salary range	Between $32,000 And $51,000	Between $31,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City	Albuquerque, NM	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Maryland	New York
Best paying company	Basin Electric Power Cooperative	AbbVie
Best paying industry	Technology	Pharmaceutical

Differences between chemical laboratory technician and laboratory analyst education

There are a few differences between a chemical laboratory technician and a laboratory analyst in terms of educational background:

	Chemical Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Analyst
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common major	Chemistry	Biology
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Chemical laboratory technician vs laboratory analyst demographics

Here are the differences between chemical laboratory technicians' and laboratory analysts' demographics:

	Chemical Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Analyst
Average age	44	38
Gender ratio	Male, 60.8% Female, 39.2%	Male, 48.3% Female, 51.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 8.4% White, 62.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	9%	8%

Differences between chemical laboratory technician and laboratory analyst duties and responsibilities

Chemical laboratory technician example responsibilities.

Manage daily production schedule, monitor machine operation, addressed any etching machinery problems.
Utilize instrumental and titration analysis on various chemical baths to maintain control of processes and insure product quality.
Keep accurate records and report results as per ISO documentation requirements.
Perform test on in-process products using UV and HPLC instruments including cleaning equipment verification tests.
Prepare and analyze samples in compliance with TCEQ, ISO 14001 and 9001, and other regulatory standards
Perform extractions, cold point, and viscosity processes per NIST, ASTM, GMP, and GLP guidelines.

Laboratory analyst example responsibilities.

Use sophisticate laboratory instrumentation (HPLC, FTIR, UV, GC) and computer systems to collect and record data.
Analyze organic compounds using gravimetric, titration, distillation and spectrophotometry methods.
Prepare for and represent the laboratory during FDA, customer, and ISO audits.
Complete preparation of organic samples for GC, HPLC, IR and GCMS analysis.
Prepare solid and aqueous samples for analysis on diagnostic instruments including GC, GCMS and IC.
Utilize internal LIMS computer database for data entry and communication.

Chemical laboratory technician vs laboratory analyst skills

Common chemical laboratory technician skills

Lab Equipment, 13%
Routine Maintenance, 4%
Chemical Analysis, 4%
Analytical Methods, 4%
Chemical Processes, 4%
Chromatography, 3%

Common laboratory analyst skills

Test Methods, 8%
Lab Equipment, 7%
Lims, 5%
Laboratory Procedures, 5%
Sample Preparation, 5%
Analytical Methods, 4%

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Chemical Laboratory Technician
Chemical Laboratory Technician vs Laboratory Analyst

Updated January 8, 2025

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