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The differences between laboratory engineers and lead engineers 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 engineer and a lead engineer. Additionally, a laboratory engineer has an average salary of $92,242, which is higher than the $84,927 average annual salary of a lead engineer.
The top three skills for a laboratory engineer include C++, lab environment and UL. The most important skills for a lead engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Laboratory Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,242 | $84,927 |
| Hourly rate | $44.35 | $40.83 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 121,212 | 301,777 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
A lead engineer's duties vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities will revolve around overseeing the progress of operations and performance of the workforce, ensuring that everything is running smoothly. They are also responsible for addressing issues and concerns, assessing risks, monitoring the budget, coordinating with clients and architects, and even training workers. Furthermore, as a lead engineer, it is crucial to conduct regular inspections to ensure the quality of work and maintain a safe environment for all workers.
Laboratory engineers and lead engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Average salary | $92,242 | $84,927 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $135,000 | Between $60,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a laboratory engineer and a lead engineer in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between laboratory engineers' and lead engineers' demographics:
| Laboratory Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |