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The differences between laboratory assistants 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 assistant and a clinical laboratory assistant. Additionally, a laboratory assistant has an average salary of $34,168, which is higher than the $32,679 average annual salary of a clinical laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a laboratory assistant include patients, phlebotomy and customer service. The most important skills for a clinical laboratory assistant are patients, phlebotomy, and clinical lab.
| Laboratory Assistant | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $34,168 | $32,679 |
| Hourly rate | $16.43 | $15.71 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 50,853 | 108,124 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| 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.
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 assistants and clinical laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Assistant | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $34,168 | $32,679 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $44,000 | Between $26,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Alaska |
| Best paying company | UST Global | Roswell Park |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a laboratory assistant and a clinical laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Assistant | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | New York University |
Here are the differences between laboratory assistants' and clinical laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Laboratory Assistant | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4% | Male, 25.4% Female, 74.6% |
| 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, 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% |