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Instructor vs laboratory instructor

The differences between instructors and laboratory instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an instructor has an average salary of $53,426, which is higher than the $49,931 average annual salary of a laboratory instructor.

The top three skills for an instructor include customer service, CPR and course curriculum. The most important skills for a laboratory instructor are lab procedures, molecular biology, and patient care.

Instructor vs laboratory instructor overview

InstructorLaboratory Instructor
Yearly salary$53,426$49,931
Hourly rate$25.69$24.01
Growth rate12%2%
Number of jobs39,27363,100
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4246
Years of experience-4

What does an instructor do?

Instructors are responsible for imparting knowledge to students. They are well-versed in different topics related to their area of teaching. They prepare lessons, create presentation materials and other collaterals, and present these to the students. They manage the classroom and ensure that students are attentive. Instructors are also responsible for creating ways to check the students' knowledge retention through schoolwork and examinations. They also evaluate their teaching style as well to further improve their skills for the next batch of students. Instructors should be patient, creative, and well-versed in classroom management.

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.

Instructor vs laboratory instructor salary

Instructors and laboratory instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.

InstructorLaboratory Instructor
Average salary$53,426$49,931
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $94,000Between $31,000 And $78,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSpringfield, MA
Highest paying stateConnecticutMassachusetts
Best paying companyKern Community College DistrictHutchinson Community College
Best paying industryGovernmentEducation

Differences between instructor and laboratory instructor education

There are a few differences between an instructor and a laboratory instructor in terms of educational background:

InstructorLaboratory Instructor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorBusinessBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Instructor vs laboratory instructor demographics

Here are the differences between instructors' and laboratory instructors' demographics:

InstructorLaboratory Instructor
Average age4246
Gender ratioMale, 51.2% Female, 48.8%Male, 51.3% Female, 48.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 9.5% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%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 Percentage11%16%

Differences between instructor and laboratory instructor duties and responsibilities

Instructor example responsibilities.

  • Discipline kids when necessary, and manage lifeguarding duties during swimming portions of the camp.
  • Own and manage a small business as a CPR and first aid instructor and consultant for diverse clients.
  • Instruct all areas of massage therapy program including anatomy, physiology, pathology, contraindications and ethics.
  • Teach a broad range of ESL classes, such as pronunciation, grammar, and conversation classes.
  • Develop curricula for college-level philosophy and ethics courses with clear expectations and objectives in mind.
  • Plan and provide human anatomy and physiology course instruction and laboratory activities for students in the nursing program.
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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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Instructor vs laboratory instructor skills

Common instructor skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • CPR, 11%
  • Course Curriculum, 8%
  • Professional Development, 7%
  • Classroom Management, 5%
  • Student Learning, 4%
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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