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The differences between laboratory aides and clinical laboratory assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a laboratory aide and a clinical laboratory assistant. Additionally, a clinical laboratory assistant has an average salary of $32,679, which is higher than the $28,083 average annual salary of a laboratory aide.
The top three skills for a laboratory aide include patients, specimen handling and lab equipment. The most important skills for a clinical laboratory assistant are patients, phlebotomy, and clinical lab.
| Laboratory Aide | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $28,083 | $32,679 |
| Hourly rate | $13.50 | $15.71 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 89,595 | 108,124 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A laboratory aide is primarily responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and order in laboratories, all while performing support tasks for scientists. Their duties revolve around arranging specimens and samples, transporting materials from one laboratory to another, preparing apparatuses and machines, and storing them accordingly. A laboratory aide may also run errands, produce progress reports, sanitize areas and instruments, and properly dispose of chemicals and other hazardous waste. Furthermore, it is crucial to implement the laboratory's safety policies and regulations, ensuring a safe and healthy laboratory environment for everyone.
A clinical laboratory assistant specializes in performing support tasks in a laboratory or similar setting using their in-depth knowledge. They are primarily responsible for assisting researchers, preparing samples and apparatus, conducting experiments and analysis, maintaining extensive documentation of all processes and results, and reporting to management. Moreover, a clinical laboratory assistant is also responsible for gathering necessary information before beginning studies and maintaining the laboratory's cleanliness and sanitation. It is vital to implement all the safety rules and regulations to ensure a safe and productive work environment.
Laboratory aides and clinical laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Aide | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $28,083 | $32,679 |
| Salary range | Between $20,000 And $38,000 | Between $26,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Illumina | Roswell Park |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a laboratory aide and a clinical laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Aide | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | New York University |
Here are the differences between laboratory aides' and clinical laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Laboratory Aide | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.4% Female, 57.6% | Male, 25.4% Female, 74.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 12.1% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.1% White, 54.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |