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Laboratory coordinator vs lead laboratory technician

The differences between laboratory coordinators and lead laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a laboratory coordinator, becoming a lead laboratory technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a lead laboratory technician has an average salary of $54,230, which is higher than the $52,690 average annual salary of a laboratory coordinator.

The top three skills for a laboratory coordinator include lab equipment, patients and patient care. The most important skills for a lead laboratory technician are patients, lab equipment, and customer service.

Laboratory coordinator vs lead laboratory technician overview

Laboratory CoordinatorLead Laboratory Technician
Yearly salary$52,690$54,230
Hourly rate$25.33$26.07
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs64,91477,096
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4444
Years of experience212

What does a laboratory coordinator do?

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.

What does a lead laboratory technician do?

A Lead Laboratory Technician coordinates the operations of a laboratory. They supervise the preparation of specimens for tests, collection of blood, examination of blood samples, and other duties performed by the technician team.

Laboratory coordinator vs lead laboratory technician salary

Laboratory coordinators and lead laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Laboratory CoordinatorLead Laboratory Technician
Average salary$52,690$54,230
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $72,000Between $33,000 And $86,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MASouth San Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateHawaiiNew Jersey
Best paying companyAbbVieMeta
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalManufacturing

Differences between laboratory coordinator and lead laboratory technician education

There are a few differences between a laboratory coordinator and a lead laboratory technician in terms of educational background:

Laboratory CoordinatorLead Laboratory Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaNew York University

Laboratory coordinator vs lead laboratory technician demographics

Here are the differences between laboratory coordinators' and lead laboratory technicians' demographics:

Laboratory CoordinatorLead Laboratory Technician
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 41.5% Female, 58.5%Male, 58.2% Female, 41.8%
Race ratioBlack 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, 9.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between laboratory coordinator and lead laboratory technician duties and responsibilities

Laboratory coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Lead a team to decide on an optimal LIS.
  • Manage curriculum development, authore and publish lab manuals in physiology and ecology.
  • Prepare and audit patient charts according to HIPAA compliance.
  • Reject patient specimen samples that do not meet CLIA requirements.
  • Maintain records and training for all CLIA waive testing for all practice employees.
  • Follow EPA and OSHA mandates to ensure the proper and safe disposal of hazardous samples and waste.
    • Show more

Lead laboratory technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
  • Set up, adjust, calibrate, clean, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory instruments.
  • Assist with FDA and OSHA audits, coordinate the center for all audits and inspections.
  • Accession patient information, doctor information, and testing information accurately and promptly into the NovoPath LIS system.
  • Develop and execute IQ/OQ/PQ at manufacturing site.
  • Maintain, troubleshoot, verify and calibrate laboratory equipment.
    • Show more

Laboratory coordinator vs lead laboratory technician skills

Common laboratory coordinator skills
  • Lab Equipment, 15%
  • Patients, 13%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Chemistry, 6%
  • Laboratory Safety, 3%
  • CLIA, 3%
Common lead laboratory technician skills
  • Patients, 12%
  • Lab Equipment, 11%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Ongoing Maintenance, 5%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Chemistry, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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