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The differences between laboratory assistants and assistant laboratory technicians 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 assistant and an assistant laboratory technician. Additionally, an assistant laboratory technician has an average salary of $35,556, which is higher than the $34,168 average annual salary of a laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a laboratory assistant include patients, phlebotomy and customer service. The most important skills for an assistant laboratory technician are patients, ladders, and computer lab.
| Laboratory Assistant | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $34,168 | $35,556 |
| Hourly rate | $16.43 | $17.09 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 50,853 | 116,488 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Laboratory assistants work for researchers, scientists, or professors in the laboratory setting. They are expected to have a solid background in the field of study of the laboratory they are assigned to. They do a variety of tasks in the laboratory, such as setting up equipment, observing experiments, analyzing results, creating reports, and recommending improvements to the testing. They may also be assigned to clean and sanitize laboratory equipment as needed. Laboratory assistants should have good research skills, analytical skills, and organizational skills.
The primary responsibility of a lab assistant is to help scientists and technologists. Lab assistants are assigned to prepare and monitor tests and experiments in research or medical laboratory. They analyze data and establish reports based on test results. Also, they set up the tools and equipment used in the lab. It is also part of their job to clean the lab rooms--knowledge in lab management, communication skills, attention to detail, and medical-related management.
Laboratory assistants and assistant laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Assistant | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $34,168 | $35,556 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $44,000 | Between $21,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Manchester, NH |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | UST Global | Patterson-UTI Energy |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a laboratory assistant and an assistant laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Assistant | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | University of Maryland - College Park |
Here are the differences between laboratory assistants' and assistant laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Laboratory Assistant | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4% | Male, 71.6% Female, 28.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 13.9% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |