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The differences between laboratory assistants and laboratory supervisors 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 laboratory supervisor. Additionally, a laboratory supervisor has an average salary of $67,361, 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 a laboratory supervisor are clinical laboratory, patients, and chemistry.
| Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Yearly salary | $34,168 | $67,361 |
| Hourly rate | $16.43 | $32.39 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 50,853 | 49,957 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| 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 job of laboratory supervisors is to oversee the daily operations of laboratories. They are responsible for facilitating the collection, analysis, and interpretation of laboratory results. Other responsibilities include supervising personnel, managing the operating budget of the laboratory, and hiring employees. Laboratory supervisors are responsible for overseeing quality assurance and enforcing practices to ensure quality control within the laboratory. Aside from these tasks, they also manage the acquisition of laboratory equipment and supplies and resolve any technical or administrative issues within the laboratory.
Laboratory assistants and laboratory supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Average salary | $34,168 | $67,361 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $44,000 | Between $47,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | UST Global | Chevron |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a laboratory assistant and a laboratory supervisor in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between laboratory assistants' and laboratory supervisors' demographics:
| Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4% | Male, 52.7% Female, 47.3% |
| 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, 10.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 12.0% White, 53.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |