Laboratory director vs practice manager

The differences between laboratory directors and practice managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a laboratory director and a practice manager. Additionally, a practice manager has an average salary of $107,374, which is higher than the $92,971 average annual salary of a laboratory director.

The top three skills for a laboratory director include clinical laboratory, patients and patient care. The most important skills for a practice manager are patients, patient care, and customer service.

Laboratory director vs practice manager overview

	Laboratory Director	Practice Manager
Yearly salary	$92,971	$107,374
Hourly rate	$44.70	$51.62
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	59,500	38,196
Job satisfaction	5	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a laboratory director do?

A Laboratory Director is responsible for the overall operation and administration of the laboratory. They examine data, create reports, manage the staff, and ensure that the lab facility operates in accordance with the regulatory provisions of the government and the organization.

What does a practice manager do?

A practice manager is responsible for supervising daily operations, especially on the side of the medical industry. Practice managers monitor staffing needs, train new employees, and evaluate the employees' productivity and performance. They also enforce strict guidelines and procedures, ensuring that the processes adhere to the legal standards and regulatory requirements. Practice managers also maintain budget goals, creating cost estimates and expense reports. A practice manager must have strong communication, analytical, and critical-thinking skills, as well as comprehensive knowledge of the medical industry practices.

Laboratory director vs practice manager salary

Laboratory directors and practice managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Laboratory Director	Practice Manager
Average salary	$92,971	$107,374
Salary range	Between $55,000 And $156,000	Between $65,000 And $175,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Providence, RI
Highest paying state	Delaware	Rhode Island
Best paying company	Reed Smith	Davis Wright Tremaine
Best paying industry	Media	Technology

Differences between laboratory director and practice manager education

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

	Laboratory Director	Practice Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common major	Biology	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Laboratory director vs practice manager demographics

Here are the differences between laboratory directors' and practice managers' demographics:

	Laboratory Director	Practice Manager
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 55.9% Female, 44.1%	Male, 25.3% Female, 74.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 8.1% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.9% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between laboratory director and practice manager duties and responsibilities

Laboratory director example responsibilities.

Perform and manage quality control, maintenance and calibration of all equipment in hematology, coagulation and urinalysis.
Set up forensic DNA laboratory, train laboratory technicians in advance molecular techniques, and manage day-to-day activities of forensic DNA laboratory
Consult patients on various laboratory procedures involve in IVF.
Supervise 8 managers and 130 full-time employees (FTEs).
Focus on sterility, endotoxin, water and bioburden testing.
Restore compliance integrity of lab back to full capacity in time for JCAHO inspection.

Practice manager example responsibilities.

Secure new engagements worldwide, and lead numerous ERP and CRM initiatives.
Manage a great team of 7 consultants that deliver outstanding ERP solutions.
Supervise and manage a staff of 12.5 FTE personnel and 4 FTE physicians.
Accomplish at applying knowledge of veterinary science and compassion for animals to ensure optimal care.
Manage all aspects of establishing, setting and implementing standards and work processes to ensure well running PMO.
Manage the selection process and implementation of the practice's EMR by reviewing and updating the system as needed.

Laboratory director vs practice manager skills

Common laboratory director skills

Clinical Laboratory, 11%
Patients, 10%
Patient Care, 9%
CLIA, 6%
Test Results, 6%
Laboratory Services, 4%

Common practice manager skills

Patients, 17%
Patient Care, 8%
Customer Service, 6%
PET, 5%
Practice Management, 4%
Payroll, 3%

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Laboratory Director
Laboratory Director vs Practice Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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