Laboratory associate vs laboratory manager

The differences between laboratory associates and laboratory managers 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 manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a laboratory manager has an average salary of $74,314, 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 manager are lab equipment, patients, and customer service.

Laboratory associate vs laboratory manager overview

	Laboratory Associate	Laboratory Manager
Yearly salary	$42,756	$74,314
Hourly rate	$20.56	$35.73
Growth rate	-	3%
Number of jobs	50,050	43,321
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 63%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age	44	48
Years of experience	12	6

What does a laboratory associate do?

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.

What does a laboratory manager do?

Laboratory managers provide accurate laboratory diagnosis through evaluating specimen procedures and coordinating with pathologists to validate laboratory findings. They are responsible for maintaining laboratory tools and equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of instruments before and after use, organizing equipment based on its function, and immediately repairing or replacing defective items. A laboratory manager also secures the confidentiality of laboratory systems, keeping records of results, and releasing information to the appropriate personnel. Laboratory managers must have a broad knowledge of the scientific industry, as well as excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills.

Laboratory associate vs laboratory manager salary

Laboratory associates and laboratory managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Laboratory Associate	Laboratory Manager
Average salary	$42,756	$74,314
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $63,000	Between $49,000 And $111,000
Highest paying City	New Brunswick, NJ	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Alaska	Hawaii
Best paying company	Meta	Meta
Best paying industry	Pharmaceutical	Pharmaceutical

Differences between laboratory associate and laboratory manager education

There are a few differences between a laboratory associate and a laboratory manager in terms of educational background:

	Laboratory Associate	Laboratory Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 63%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common major	Biology	Biology
Most common college	New York University	Stanford University

Laboratory associate vs laboratory manager demographics

Here are the differences between laboratory associates' and laboratory managers' demographics:

	Laboratory Associate	Laboratory Manager
Average age	44	48
Gender ratio	Male, 42.2% Female, 57.8%	Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6%
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, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 70.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between laboratory associate and laboratory manager duties and responsibilities

Laboratory associate example responsibilities.

Manage supply inventory and maintain cleanliness.
Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
Direct patient care, phlebotomy, medical billing, clinical laboratory specimen collection, reference laboratory coordinator, specimen courier.
Operate combines to harvest crops for yield-testing field crops.
Perform fluorescence in situ hybridization in a CLIA certify lab.
Utilize CoPath for receiving specimen and reporting out of test results.

Laboratory manager example responsibilities.

Lead laboratory investigations, OOS, deviations, change controls and CAPA.
Manage daily personnel challenges, assist with marketing and maintain appropriate standards and regulations per JCAHO, DNV.
Manage staff and oversee FDA guidelines and regulations for pharmaceutical research
Initiate and manage successful in-house design and implementation of network base LIMS database.
Manage curriculum development, authore and publish lab manuals in physiology and ecology.
Manage daily laboratory operations including personnel, client consulting, analyses and adherence to GLP protocols.

Laboratory associate vs laboratory manager skills

Common laboratory associate skills

Patients, 10%
Specimen Handling, 6%
Phlebotomy, 6%
Chemistry, 6%
Customer Service, 4%
Patient Care, 4%

Common laboratory manager skills

Lab Equipment, 12%
Patients, 9%
Customer Service, 7%
Chemistry, 6%
Clinical Laboratory, 5%
Lab Safety, 5%

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Laboratory Associate
Laboratory Associate vs Laboratory Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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