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The differences between laboratory coordinators 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 coordinator and a laboratory research assistant. Additionally, a laboratory coordinator has an average salary of $52,690, which is higher than the $36,537 average annual salary of a laboratory research assistant.
The top three skills for a laboratory coordinator include lab equipment, patients and patient care. The most important skills for a laboratory research assistant are data collection, patients, and laboratory equipment.
| Laboratory Coordinator | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $52,690 | $36,537 |
| Hourly rate | $25.33 | $17.57 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 64,914 | 87,343 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 44 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
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 coordinators and laboratory research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Coordinator | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $52,690 | $36,537 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $72,000 | Between $24,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | AbbVie | New York University |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Education |
There are a few differences between a laboratory coordinator and a laboratory research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Coordinator | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between laboratory coordinators' and laboratory research assistants' demographics:
| Laboratory Coordinator | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.5% Female, 58.5% | Male, 46.2% Female, 53.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 8% | 8% |