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The differences between laboratory engineers and laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a laboratory engineer, becoming a laboratory technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a laboratory engineer has an average salary of $92,242, which is higher than the $40,038 average annual salary of a laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a laboratory engineer include C++, lab environment and UL. The most important skills for a laboratory technician are patients, lab equipment, and customer service.
| Laboratory Engineer | Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $92,242 | $40,038 |
| Hourly rate | $44.35 | $19.25 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 121,212 | 84,357 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
A laboratory engineer specializes in designing and developing tools and machinery for laboratory operations, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities include installing and maintaining equipment, performing extensive research and analysis, coordinating with other experts, and identifying areas needing improvement, implementing solutions as required. They must also conduct regular maintenance checks on systems, performing corrective measures promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as a laboratory engineer, it is essential to provide technical support while implementing the facility's policies and regulations.
Laboratory technicians are medical professionals who work in the laboratory. They are responsible for the equipment in the laboratory, making sure tools are properly sanitized and sterilized after every use. They also ensure that laboratory equipment works well. Laboratory technicians may also be responsible for collecting and testing samples from patients. They prepare solutions and other chemicals that may be needed for testing. They also provide an analysis of the samples that they tested. Laboratory technicians ensure that all items in the laboratory are properly labeled and organized.
Laboratory engineers and laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Engineer | Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $92,242 | $40,038 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $135,000 | Between $27,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Meta | Tenaska |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a laboratory engineer and a laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Engineer | Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Biology |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | New York University |
Here are the differences between laboratory engineers' and laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Laboratory Engineer | Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% | Male, 53.3% Female, 46.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 14.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 8% |