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The differences between laboratory administrators and laboratory managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a laboratory administrator, becoming a laboratory manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a laboratory administrator has an average salary of $83,338, which is higher than the $74,314 average annual salary of a laboratory manager.
The top three skills for a laboratory administrator include lab equipment, linux and customer service. The most important skills for a laboratory manager are lab equipment, patients, and customer service.
| Laboratory Administrator | Laboratory Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $83,338 | $74,314 |
| Hourly rate | $40.07 | $35.73 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 94,246 | 43,321 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 43 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A Laboratory Administrator oversees the daily operations of laboratories to ensure efficiency and smooth workflow. They have the authority to manage staff, set goals and guidelines, establish budgets and timelines, liaise with internal and external partners, supervise equipment acquisition processes, and review documentation. They are also responsible for implementing the facility's safety policies and regulations, developing new ones as needed. A Laboratory Administrator may work at learning institutions, medical facilities, government agencies, and private laboratories for employment.
Laboratory managers provide accurate laboratory diagnosis through evaluating specimen procedures and coordinating with pathologists to validate laboratory findings. They are responsible for maintaining laboratory tools and equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of instruments before and after use, organizing equipment based on its function, and immediately repairing or replacing defective items. A laboratory manager also secures the confidentiality of laboratory systems, keeping records of results, and releasing information to the appropriate personnel. Laboratory managers must have a broad knowledge of the scientific industry, as well as excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills.
Laboratory administrators and laboratory managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Administrator | Laboratory Manager | |
| Average salary | $83,338 | $74,314 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $138,000 | Between $49,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | South San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Arista Networks | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a laboratory administrator and a laboratory manager in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Administrator | Laboratory Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Biology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between laboratory administrators' and laboratory managers' demographics:
| Laboratory Administrator | Laboratory Manager | |
| Average age | 43 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.6% Female, 43.4% | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 13.4% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 70.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |