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The differences between laboratory managers and laboratory supervisors 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 manager, becoming a laboratory supervisor takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a laboratory manager has an average salary of $74,314, which is higher than the $67,361 average annual salary of a laboratory supervisor.
The top three skills for a laboratory manager include lab equipment, patients and customer service. The most important skills for a laboratory supervisor are clinical laboratory, patients, and chemistry.
| Laboratory Manager | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Yearly salary | $74,314 | $67,361 |
| Hourly rate | $35.73 | $32.39 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 43,321 | 49,957 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
Laboratory managers provide accurate laboratory diagnosis through evaluating specimen procedures and coordinating with pathologists to validate laboratory findings. They are responsible for maintaining laboratory tools and equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of instruments before and after use, organizing equipment based on its function, and immediately repairing or replacing defective items. A laboratory manager also secures the confidentiality of laboratory systems, keeping records of results, and releasing information to the appropriate personnel. Laboratory managers must have a broad knowledge of the scientific industry, as well as excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills.
The primary job of laboratory supervisors is to oversee the daily operations of laboratories. They are responsible for facilitating the collection, analysis, and interpretation of laboratory results. Other responsibilities include supervising personnel, managing the operating budget of the laboratory, and hiring employees. Laboratory supervisors are responsible for overseeing quality assurance and enforcing practices to ensure quality control within the laboratory. Aside from these tasks, they also manage the acquisition of laboratory equipment and supplies and resolve any technical or administrative issues within the laboratory.
Laboratory managers and laboratory supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Manager | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Average salary | $74,314 | $67,361 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $111,000 | Between $47,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Chevron |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a laboratory manager and a laboratory supervisor in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Manager | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between laboratory managers' and laboratory supervisors' demographics:
| Laboratory Manager | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% | Male, 52.7% Female, 47.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 70.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 12.0% White, 53.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |