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The differences between laboratory administrators and laboratory research assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a laboratory administrator and a laboratory research assistant. Additionally, a laboratory administrator has an average salary of $83,338, which is higher than the $36,537 average annual salary of a laboratory research assistant.
The top three skills for a laboratory administrator include lab equipment, linux and customer service. The most important skills for a laboratory research assistant are data collection, patients, and laboratory equipment.
| Laboratory Administrator | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $83,338 | $36,537 |
| Hourly rate | $40.07 | $17.57 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 94,246 | 87,343 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 43 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A laboratory research assistant is an individual who performs lab experiments and carries out projects designed by senior lab staff members. Laboratory research assistants design and conduct experiments using biohazards and other dangerous materials to gain information and test scientific processes. They must write detailed reports of their research and experiments and then deliver these reports in written and verbal forms. Laboratory research assistants may also work in different settings such as medical facilities and pharmaceutical companies.
Laboratory administrators and laboratory research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Administrator | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $83,338 | $36,537 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $138,000 | Between $24,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | South San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Arista Networks | New York University |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Education |
There are a few differences between a laboratory administrator and a laboratory research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Administrator | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Business | Biology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between laboratory administrators' and laboratory research assistants' demographics:
| Laboratory Administrator | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 43 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.6% Female, 43.4% | Male, 46.2% Female, 53.8% |
| 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, 8.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 16.6% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |