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The differences between laboratory associates and laboratory coordinators 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 associate, becoming a laboratory coordinator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a laboratory coordinator has an average salary of $52,690, which is higher than the $42,756 average annual salary of a laboratory associate.
The top three skills for a laboratory associate include patients, specimen handling and phlebotomy. The most important skills for a laboratory coordinator are lab equipment, patients, and patient care.
| Laboratory Associate | Laboratory Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $42,756 | $52,690 |
| Hourly rate | $20.56 | $25.33 |
| Growth rate | - | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 50,050 | 64,914 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
A laboratory associate's responsibilities revolve around preparing test samples and subjecting them into different examination processes for scientific purposes. Aside from performing extensive analysis, they are also responsible for recording data, reviewing findings, collaborating with other scientists, and producing various reports and presentations. A laboratory associate can work for an institution or private company; they may also choose to contribute their studies in different publications and research activities. Furthermore, as a laboratory practitioner, it is essential to adhere to all the laboratory safety policies and regulations, ensuring a safe and healthy work environment.
A laboratory coordinator is responsible for supporting laboratory examinations and experiments, collecting laboratory samples, and ensuring the efficiency and performance of laboratory tools and equipment. Laboratory coordinators maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the laboratory facility at all times to avoid contaminations and hazards that may affect laboratory results and accuracy of examinations. They also perform scientific processes under the supervision of a scientist or laboratory technicians and keep an organized report of findings in the database.
Laboratory associates and laboratory coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Associate | Laboratory Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $42,756 | $52,690 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $63,000 | Between $38,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Brunswick, NJ | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Meta | AbbVie |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a laboratory associate and a laboratory coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Associate | Laboratory Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between laboratory associates' and laboratory coordinators' demographics:
| Laboratory Associate | Laboratory Coordinator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.2% Female, 57.8% | Male, 41.5% Female, 58.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.2% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |