What does a laboratory administrator do?
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 administrator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real laboratory administrator resumes:
- Install and manage Cisco routing and switching equipments, IOS upgrades and configuration changes.
- Manage integrated network connectivity, reporting, and troubleshooting including switch, router, and firewall connectivity to increase system stability.
- Set up and configure test beds for routers and switches for engineers.
- Install and uninstall networking switches, routers, servers, etc., in lab racks.
- Perform maintenance/troubleshooting for lab computers and printers.
- Provide UNIX and graphic software support to students.
- Install new ESX hosts into development lab cluster.
- Roll out a new virtual machine lab using VMWare.
- Test, troubleshoot and upgrade computers for student use.
- Rout and track FDA specifications and compliance relate documents.
- Maintain MSDS records and other lab paperwork per FDA regulations.
- Create specifications for hardware vendors to build of OS installation media for servers.
- Perform regular check with desktop computers, printers, projectors and audio systems.
- Maintain and troubleshoot math lab network software, hardware, and work stations.
- Develop various PowerShell scripts to track critical events and show trends over time.
Laboratory administrator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 24% of Laboratory Administrators are proficient in Lab Equipment, Linux, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Laboratory Administrators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Lab Equipment, 24%
Job duties included managing day-to-day lab administrative processes, team coordination, management and maintenance of all lab equipment.
- Linux, 6%
Utilized Linux terminal interface to install software applications using wiki documents.
- Customer Service, 5%
Processed and tracked incoming laboratory samples * Wrote laboratory reports * Data entry and customer service
- Data Entry, 5%
Performed data entry, medical billing, distribution of lab results, and various administrative duties.
- Chemistry, 5%
Create a lab test forms for the Chemistry and Microbiological department for proper test which meets SOP requires for company.
- Switches, 4%
Provided test-bed support, Network configuration, IOS configuration and troubleshooting of Cisco Routers, switches etc.
Most laboratory administrators use their skills in "lab equipment," "linux," and "customer service" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential laboratory administrator responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a laboratory administrator to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "administrators need to evaluate networks and systems to make sure that they perform reliably and to anticipate new requirements as customers’ needs change." Laboratory administrators often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "streamline lab services and documentation to improve effectiveness and efficiency implement a database system for the lab build and maintain lab printers"
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform laboratory administrator duties is communication skills. Laboratory administrators responsibilities require that "administrators must describe problems and their solutions to non-it workers." Laboratory administrators also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "designed experiments to aid students in understanding communication system taught students in installation of windows nt operating system. "
Problem-solving skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of laboratory administrators is problem-solving skills. This skill is critical to many everyday laboratory administrator duties, as "administrators must quickly resolve problems that arise with computer networks." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "responded and resolved lab service requests while maintaining customer service to client employee's using lab. "
The three companies that hire the most laboratory administrators are:
- IBM3 laboratory administrators jobs
- National Dentex3 laboratory administrators jobs
- Arista Networks2 laboratory administrators jobs
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Compare different laboratory administrators
Laboratory administrator vs. Help desk administrator
Help desk administrator is responsible for handling activities related to system support for their company or organization. They are in charge of providing superb client experiences and working in resolving support issues in a professional and timely manner. One of their primary tasks includes providing login resets and passwords for end-users. In addition, they will also perform innovative systems and network repairs, as well as assist computer information responses as required. Moreover, they support complete equipment set-up, renewal, or termination of a user account, handle server, and domain account changes.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between laboratory administrators and help desk administrator. For instance, laboratory administrator responsibilities require skills such as "lab equipment," "data entry," "chemistry," and "switches." Whereas a help desk administrator is skilled in "desk support," "technical support," "phone calls," and "remote desktop." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Help desk administrators really shine in the finance industry with an average salary of $56,503. Comparatively, laboratory administrators tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $105,662.The education levels that help desk administrators earn slightly differ from laboratory administrators. In particular, help desk administrators are 8.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a laboratory administrator. Additionally, they're 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Laboratory administrator vs. Unix systems administrator
UNIX system administrators install, configure, and maintain the UNIX systems of organizations. The administrators are in charge of the troubleshooting of server errors. They install new system hardware for their respective organizations and respond to the issues raised by the users. It is part of their job to monitor the network's performance. Usually, they are working in an office using UNIX multiuser operating system. They supervise the execution of data conversion projects such as database hardware replacements.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that laboratory administrator responsibilities requires skills like "lab equipment," "linux," "customer service," and "data entry." But a unix systems administrator might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "production servers," "solaris," "database," and "system administration."
On average, unix systems administrators earn a higher salary than laboratory administrators. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, unix systems administrators earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $110,380. Whereas laboratory administrators have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $105,662.unix systems administrators earn similar levels of education than laboratory administrators in general. They're 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Laboratory administrator vs. Systems administrator lead
A systems administrator lead is responsible for planning, designing, and implementing procedures for critical enterprise systems. Typical duties of systems administrators include managing the day-to-day operations of a company's computer and network systems, developing new application and system implementation plans, and establishing guidelines for installing and managing the organization's computer operating systems. In addition, you are expected to ensure the security of computer systems by preventing unauthorized use, user abuse, and acts of nature.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from laboratory administrator resumes include skills like "lab equipment," "customer service," "data entry," and "chemistry," whereas a systems administrator lead is more likely to list skills in "project management," "system performance," "technical support," and "database. "
Systems administrator leads earn the highest salary when working in the telecommunication industry, where they receive an average salary of $103,205. Comparatively, laboratory administrators have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $105,662.systems administrator leads typically earn similar educational levels compared to laboratory administrators. Specifically, they're 2.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Laboratory administrator vs. Windows system administrator
A Windows System Administrator maintains the systems and servers of a Windows operating system. They evaluate and modify the system's performance.
Types of laboratory administrator
Updated January 8, 2025
