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What does a chemist/laboratory technician do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Betsy Smith

Laboratory technicians are specialists whose work involves complex procedures or performance of most advanced diagnostic tests in scientific or medical laboratories. Their responsibilities include overseeing and assisting scientific investigations and experiments as well as designing, establishing, and handling controlled trials and experiments. Also, they record and assess data, demonstrate procedures, provide technical support, direct staff, and present outcomes to senior staff. Additionally, they stay current with relevant scientific and technical progress and carry out risk assessments.

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Chemist/laboratory technician responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real chemist/laboratory technician resumes:

  • Lead aerobic, anaerobic and UV light testing, chemical residue testing and centrifuge to separate chemicals from water.
  • Conduct GC PID/FID analysis, interpret results and process report by LIMS.
  • Ensure compliance by following GMP and pertinent FDA requirements for food grade products.
  • Point person for FDA audits.
  • Record data daily using 3sigma SQC methodology into LIMS.
  • Develop and implement new LIMS system for use by the entire plant.
  • Operate and maintain complex laboratory equipment including GC, LC and INNOVA analyzers.
  • Conduct coating thickness, hardness, and adhesion test on chrome-plate barrels in accordance with the military specification and ASTM standards.
  • Coordinate manufacturing process for GMP manufacturing suite.
  • Maintain quality standards & statistical reports for ISO certification/regulations.
  • Perform HPLC and microbiological analysis of raw materials and final products.
  • Provide QC analytical testing including differential scanning calorimetry and FTIR spectroscopy.
  • Follow standard processes for evaluating product performance and creating titration information.
  • Determine residual hydrogen peroxide on various polymer materials using UV spectroscopy.
  • Conduct chemical analyses by qualitative and quantitative methods in accordance with ISO standards.

Chemist/laboratory technician skills and personality traits

We calculated that 20% of Chemist/Laboratory Technicians are proficient in Lab Equipment, R, and OSHA. They’re also known for soft skills such as Ability to use technology, Observation skills, and Analytical skills.

We break down the percentage of Chemist/Laboratory Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Lab Equipment, 20%

    Experience with operating standard lab equipment (i.e., pH meter, balances and spectrophotometer).

  • R, 8%

    Operated 2L reactor and helped with new catalyst creation in the R and D lab.

  • OSHA, 6%

    Ensured efficient laboratory function by complying with OSHA regulations, updating supplies inventories, maintaining organization and monitoring apparatus.

  • Analytical Methods, 4%

    Researched and proposed analytical methods for the analysis of internal House Reference Standards.

  • ISO, 4%

    Maintained quality standards & statistical reports for ISO certification/regulations.

  • Technical Support, 4%

    Resolved quality issues and provided technical support for product quality complaints.

Common skills that a chemist/laboratory technician uses to do their job include "lab equipment," "r," and "osha." You can find details on the most important chemist/laboratory technician responsibilities below.

Analytical skills. chemist/laboratory technicians are also known for analytical skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to chemist/laboratory technician responsibilities, because "chemical technicians must be methodical in conducting scientific experiments and interpreting data." A chemist/laboratory technician resume example shows how analytical skills is used in the workplace: "interpreted analytical data used in creating formal fda documentation. "

Communication skills. For certain chemist/laboratory technician responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "communication skills." The day-to-day duties of a chemist/laboratory technician rely on this skill, as "chemical technicians must explain their work to scientists and engineers or to workers who may not have a technical background." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what chemist/laboratory technicians do: "installed various communication and test equipment. "

Interpersonal skills. Another crucial skill for a chemist/laboratory technician to carry out their responsibilities is "interpersonal skills." A big part of what chemist/laboratory technicians relies on this skill, since "chemical technicians must work well as part of a team that often includes scientists, engineers, and other technicians." How this skill relates to chemist/laboratory technician duties can be seen in an example from a chemist/laboratory technician resume snippet: "excelled in interpersonal skills, both oral and written while maintaining excellent customer service. "

All chemist/laboratory technician skills

The three companies that hire the most chemist/laboratory technicians are:

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Compare different chemist/laboratory technicians

Chemist/laboratory technician vs. Microbiologist

Microbiologists are responsible for studying the microscopic organisms causing infections and environmental damage, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Their work focuses on the identification and growth of these microbes to better understand their characteristics that may help in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious and bacterial diseases. They use sophisticated technologies and machinery to study microbes and perform their tasks. These scientists are also responsible for developing best practices and techniques for routine sampling and research. Microbiologists may work in various settings, including laboratories, research institutes, and hospitals.

The annual salary of microbiologists is $3,220 higher than the average salary of chemist/laboratory technicians.Even though chemist/laboratory technicians and microbiologists are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require lab equipment, r, and iso in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, chemist/laboratory technician responsibilities require skills like "dot," "osha," "experimental procedures," and "analytical methods." Meanwhile a typical microbiologist has skills in areas such as "microbiology lab," "environmental monitoring," "laboratory procedures," and "microorganisms." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Microbiologists really shine in the pharmaceutical industry with an average salary of $57,911. Comparatively, chemist/laboratory technicians tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $55,497.On average, microbiologists reach similar levels of education than chemist/laboratory technicians. Microbiologists are 2.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.8% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Chemist/laboratory technician vs. Quality control assistant

Quality assurance technicians work as testers, samplers, and inspectors of quality control in the organizations. They are equipped with skills in visual inspection, written and verbal communication, and active listening. In carrying out their jobs, they are expected to work well and be detail-oriented. Working as a quality assurance technician involves problem-solving, decision making, and creative thinking. They see to it that products and services meet the quality standards for the entire organization.

Quality control assistant positions earn lower pay than chemist/laboratory technician roles. They earn a $13,564 lower salary than chemist/laboratory technicians per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both chemist/laboratory technicians and quality control assistants have skills such as "lab equipment," "r," and "iso. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real chemist/laboratory technician resumes. While chemist/laboratory technician responsibilities can utilize skills like "dot," "osha," "experimental procedures," and "analytical methods," quality control assistants use skills like "quality checks," "safety standards," "data entry," and "internal audit."

Quality control assistants may earn a lower salary than chemist/laboratory technicians, but quality control assistants earn the most pay in the construction industry with an average salary of $41,154. On the other hand, chemist/laboratory technicians receive higher pay in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $55,497.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Quality control assistants tend to reach similar levels of education than chemist/laboratory technicians. In fact, they're 3.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for chemist/laboratory technicians in the next 3-5 years?

Dr. Betsy SmithDr. Betsy Smith LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Elmira College

Honestly, I think anytime a scientist tries to predict what will be "big" in a few years, they're likely to fail. That said, I think there's a growing interest among consumers for more "green" products, so research into those areas will likely grow. For instance, we might see attempts to develop new plastics that are safer for the environment and humans, perhaps biodegradable. Organic chemistry traditionally uses harsh solvents and chemicals that are difficult to dispose of safely, so there is an effort to find alternatives to these. Analytical chemistry techniques for separating and identifying compounds, like GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry), will likely continue to be necessary. CRISPR, the relatively new gene-editing technology, is likely to become even more widely used on the biochemistry side of things.

Chemist/laboratory technician vs. Quality control

As the name entails, the job of a quality control inspector is to inspect, maintain, and improve the quality and standard of products. They are responsible for ensuring the company's reputation is not damaged due to defective products or inferior manufacturing processes. This can be done by detecting and resolving the problem early on, and returning the product for repair. A quality control inspector should also notify the supervisors immediately when issues arise and coordinate with them to address the problem.

On average, quality controls earn lower salaries than chemist/laboratory technicians, with a $18,576 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on chemist/laboratory technicians and quality controls resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "r," "iso," and "hplc.rdquo;

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from chemist/laboratory technician resumes include skills like "lab equipment," "dot," "osha," and "experimental procedures," whereas a quality control is more likely to list skills in "quality checks," "safety standards," "laboratory equipment," and "quality standards. "

Quality controls make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $36,096. On the other hand, chemist/laboratory technicians are paid the highest salary in the manufacturing industry, with average annual pay of $55,497.Most quality controls achieve a similar degree level compared to chemist/laboratory technicians. For example, they're 4.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Chemist/laboratory technician vs. Research and development assistant

A research and development assistant is responsible for supporting the research team in collecting studies and information to support research claims and evaluate data materials. Research and development assistants interview participants, conduct data and statistical analysis, and interpret survey results. They ensure to document all findings and research progress and report any concerns to the research supervisor for immediate resolution. A research and development assistant must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in participating in brainstorming sessions and finalize research subjects as required.

Research and development assistants typically earn higher pay than chemist/laboratory technicians. On average, research and development assistants earn a $11,757 higher salary per year.While their salaries may vary, chemist/laboratory technicians and research and development assistants both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "lab equipment," "iso," and "hplc. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between chemist/laboratory technicians and research and development assistants, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a chemist/laboratory technician might have more use for skills like "r," "dot," "osha," and "experimental procedures." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of research and development assistants require skills like "data entry," "laboratory equipment," "data collection," and "assist r."

The health care industry tends to pay the highest salaries for research and development assistants, with average annual pay of $71,587. Comparatively, the highest chemist/laboratory technician annual salary comes from the manufacturing industry.The average resume of research and development assistants showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to chemist/laboratory technicians. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 4.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.

Types of chemist/laboratory technician

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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