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The differences between laboratory assistants and chemistry laboratory assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a laboratory assistant, becoming a chemistry laboratory assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a laboratory assistant has an average salary of $34,168, which is higher than the $30,971 average annual salary of a chemistry laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a laboratory assistant include patients, phlebotomy and customer service. The most important skills for a chemistry laboratory assistant are lab equipment, lab safety, and chemistry lab.
| Laboratory Assistant | Chemistry Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $34,168 | $30,971 |
| Hourly rate | $16.43 | $14.89 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 50,853 | 40,180 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
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.
Chemical Laboratory Assistants are professionals who help researchers and scientists in performing lab experiments and tests. Their tasks involve the maintenance, cleanliness, or sterilization of laboratory equipment or instruments. They perform physical or chemical laboratory tests assisting scientists in the quantitative or qualitative analyses of liquids, gaseous materials, and solids. The necessary skills and knowledge for this job include chemistry, lab reporting, chemical solutions, and safety procedures.
Laboratory assistants and chemistry laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Assistant | Chemistry Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $34,168 | $30,971 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $44,000 | Between $16,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | UST Global | Pace University |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Education |
There are a few differences between a laboratory assistant and a chemistry laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Assistant | Chemistry Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | New York University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between laboratory assistants' and chemistry laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Laboratory Assistant | Chemistry Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4% | Male, 45.5% Female, 54.5% |
| 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, 6.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 9.5% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |