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The differences between clinical laboratory scientists and laboratory assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a clinical laboratory scientist, becoming a laboratory assistant takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a clinical laboratory scientist has an average salary of $67,900, which is higher than the $34,168 average annual salary of a laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a clinical laboratory scientist include patients, test results and microbiology. The most important skills for a laboratory assistant are patients, phlebotomy, and customer service.
| Clinical Laboratory Scientist | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $67,900 | $34,168 |
| Hourly rate | $32.64 | $16.43 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 133,838 | 50,853 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A Clinical Laboratory Scientist is responsible for performing laboratory tests that doctors count on to correctly diagnose and treat patients. They examine body fluids, tissues, and cells, identify infective microorganisms, and analyze the chemical constituents of body fluids.
Laboratory assistants work for researchers, scientists, or professors in the laboratory setting. They are expected to have a solid background in the field of study of the laboratory they are assigned to. They do a variety of tasks in the laboratory, such as setting up equipment, observing experiments, analyzing results, creating reports, and recommending improvements to the testing. They may also be assigned to clean and sanitize laboratory equipment as needed. Laboratory assistants should have good research skills, analytical skills, and organizational skills.
Clinical laboratory scientists and laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Laboratory Scientist | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $67,900 | $34,168 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $99,000 | Between $26,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Westpac | UST Global |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a clinical laboratory scientist and a laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Laboratory Scientist | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Biology |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | New York University |
Here are the differences between clinical laboratory scientists' and laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Clinical Laboratory Scientist | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.8% Female, 65.2% | Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 15.4% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 13.9% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |