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Graduate Teaching Assistant Vs Laboratory Instructor

The differences between graduate teaching assistants and laboratory instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a laboratory instructor has an average salary of $49,931, which is higher than the $44,994 average annual salary of a graduate teaching assistant.

The top three skills for a graduate teaching assistant include lab experiments, laboratory sections and undergraduate courses. The most important skills for a laboratory instructor are lab procedures, molecular biology, and patient care.

Graduate teaching assistant vs laboratory instructor overview

Graduate Teaching AssistantLaboratory Instructor
Yearly Salary$44,994$49,931
Hourly rate$21.63$24.01
Growth Rate-2%
Number Of Jobs12,59863,100
Job Satisfaction--
Most Common DegreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average Age4446
Years Of Experience-4

What does a Graduate Teaching Assistant do?

A Graduate Teaching Assistant may work in Learning Facilities by teaching short courses under supervision or assist the Faculty Staff in various aspects such as research. They can also lend a hand in preparing and creating learning materials such as presentations, handouts, and other teaching-related tasks. Furthermore, among the duties of a Graduate Teaching Assistant may include handling written reports, preparing or cleaning laboratories and facilities, grading and evaluating students' papers, and preparing examinations or other quiz material.

What does a laboratory instructor do?

A Laboratory Instructor works closely with students and faculty in laboratories. They set up and prepare the laboratory for experiments, and organize and maintain equipment and supplies. They also teach students how to properly use laboratory equipment, tools, and machines. Laboratory Instructors are responsible for maintaining the routine preventative maintenance of all laboratory equipment. Other duties include reinforcing laboratory housekeeping and safety protocol, coordinating with other engineering departments, and receiving, installing, and maintaining laboratory supplies and equipment.

Graduate teaching assistant vs laboratory instructor salary

Graduate teaching assistants and laboratory instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Graduate Teaching AssistantLaboratory Instructor
Average Salary$44,994$49,931
Salary RangeBetween $27,000 And $74,000Between $31,000 And $78,000
Highest Paying CityTerre Haute, INSpringfield, MA
Highest Paying StatePennsylvaniaMassachusetts
Best Paying CompanyCalifornia State University, FullertonHutchinson Community College
Best Paying IndustryEducationEducation

Differences between graduate teaching assistant and laboratory instructor education

There are a few differences between a graduate teaching assistant and a laboratory instructor in terms of educational background:

Graduate Teaching AssistantLaboratory Instructor
Most Common DegreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most Common MajorBiologyBiology
Most Common CollegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Pennsylvania

Graduate teaching assistant vs laboratory instructor demographics

Here are the differences between graduate teaching assistants' and laboratory instructors' demographics:

Graduate Teaching AssistantLaboratory Instructor
Average Age4446
Gender RatioMale, 50.4% Female, 49.6%Male, 51.3% Female, 48.7%
Race RatioBlack or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 6.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 15.2% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage6%16%

Differences between graduate teaching assistant and laboratory instructor duties and responsibilities

Graduate Teaching Assistant Example Responsibilities.

  • Accomplish assessment of PU foam samples base on morphology by SEM and optical microscope.
  • Assist classmates with developing positive study habits and strategies for managing classroom material.
  • Tutor calculus, algebra, probability, financial mathematics and others as requested.
  • Learned advance PCR techniques and troubleshooting.
  • Analyze yield of Suzuki reaction using HPLC.
  • Develop method for analysis of steroids in herbal medicines using HPLC.
  • Show More

Laboratory Instructor Example Responsibilities.

  • Assist classmates with developing positive study habits and strategies for managing classroom material.
  • Lecture on physiology via computer simulations which include group student discussion.
  • Prepare physiology equipment and dissection demonstration cats for other teaching assistants to follow.
  • Upgrade PowerPoint presentations with audio/visual animations and computer graphics, which appeal to the students thus increasing their attentiveness.
  • Demonstrate unit components utilizing hands-on instruction and PowerPoint presentations; describe experimentation process, and guide students through executing experiments.
  • Identify appropriate techniques for teaching and responding to literature, and ways to effectively use literacy to positively impact diversity education.
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Graduate teaching assistant vs laboratory instructor skills

Common Graduate Teaching Assistant Skills
  • Lab Experiments, 22%
  • Laboratory Sections, 8%
  • Undergraduate Courses, 8%
  • Organic Chemistry, 6%
  • Mathematics, 3%
  • Course Materials, 3%
Common Laboratory Instructor Skills
  • Lab Procedures, 26%
  • Molecular Biology, 8%
  • Patient Care, 7%
  • Anatomy, 5%
  • Student Performance, 5%
  • Organic Chemistry, 5%

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