Laboratory clerk vs laboratory research assistant

The differences between laboratory clerks and laboratory research assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a laboratory clerk and a laboratory research assistant. Additionally, a laboratory research assistant has an average salary of $36,537, which is higher than the $32,182 average annual salary of a laboratory clerk.

The top three skills for a laboratory clerk include patients, phlebotomy and lab specimens. The most important skills for a laboratory research assistant are data collection, patients, and laboratory equipment.

Laboratory clerk vs laboratory research assistant overview

	Laboratory Clerk	Laboratory Research Assistant
Yearly salary	$32,182	$36,537
Hourly rate	$15.47	$17.57
Growth rate	-5%	17%
Number of jobs	105,165	87,343
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 34%	Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age	47	38
Years of experience	2	2

What does a laboratory clerk do?

A laboratory clerk is responsible for a variety of tasks needed to process, report, and deliver laboratory tests and results. These include coordinating patient specimen collection, managing requests for laboratory tests, and adhering to laboratory safety rules and standards. As a laboratory clerk, you will be responsible for storing and retrieving copies of lab test reports. You must inform the lab supervisor about malfunctioning office equipment. In addition, you are also responsible for preparing and sending laboratory reports to physicians.

What does a laboratory research assistant do?

A laboratory research assistant is an individual who performs lab experiments and carries out projects designed by senior lab staff members. Laboratory research assistants design and conduct experiments using biohazards and other dangerous materials to gain information and test scientific processes. They must write detailed reports of their research and experiments and then deliver these reports in written and verbal forms. Laboratory research assistants may also work in different settings such as medical facilities and pharmaceutical companies.

Laboratory clerk vs laboratory research assistant salary

Laboratory clerks and laboratory research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Laboratory Clerk	Laboratory Research Assistant
Average salary	$32,182	$36,537
Salary range	Between $15,000 And $65,000	Between $24,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	-	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	-	Massachusetts
Best paying company	-	New York University
Best paying industry	-	Education

Differences between laboratory clerk and laboratory research assistant education

There are a few differences between a laboratory clerk and a laboratory research assistant in terms of educational background:

	Laboratory Clerk	Laboratory Research Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 34%	Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common major	Business	Biology
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Harvard University

Laboratory clerk vs laboratory research assistant demographics

Here are the differences between laboratory clerks' and laboratory research assistants' demographics:

	Laboratory Clerk	Laboratory Research Assistant
Average age	47	38
Gender ratio	Male, 18.6% Female, 81.4%	Male, 46.2% Female, 53.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 7.2% White, 56.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 16.6% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage	6%	8%

Differences between laboratory clerk and laboratory research assistant duties and responsibilities

Laboratory clerk example responsibilities.

Demonstrate strong math skills in managing inmate s accounts and calmly and effectively deescalating outbursts of belligerent inmates.
Train and follow strict HIPAA laws for protection of patient privacy.
Ensure patient safeguard, protection and comply to all company policies, procedures and HIPAA regulations
Process and organize patients' medical lab records and maintain records accuracy.
Confer with patients to obtain information for laboratory records, explain testing and addressed patient concerns.
Perform immunological, chemical, microbiological, and hematological tests, critically examine results for accuracy, troubleshoot discrepancies.

Laboratory research assistant example responsibilities.

Manage participant records according to IRB guidelines to ensure confidentiality.
Lead experiments to assess survivor behavior differences in zebrafish contaminate with dietary mercury.
Maintain microbial culture and isolate and purify bacterial and viral DNA and RNA to study the genome of common pathogenic bacteria.
Perform protein extraction on larvae.
Perform biological assays, including ELISA and RT-PCR.
Gain extensive MLST, RT-PCR, conventional PCR, primer design and gel-electrophoresis experience.

Laboratory clerk vs laboratory research assistant skills

Common laboratory clerk skills

Patients, 32%
Phlebotomy, 10%
Lab Specimens, 6%
Computer System, 4%
Computer Data Entry, 4%
Medical Terminology, 4%

Common laboratory research assistant skills

Data Collection, 5%
Patients, 5%
Laboratory Equipment, 5%
Lab Procedures, 5%
Laboratory Techniques, 5%
Molecular Biology, 4%

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Laboratory Clerk vs Laboratory Research Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

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