Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between laboratory managers 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 manager, becoming a laboratory technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a laboratory manager has an average salary of $74,314, which is higher than the $40,038 average annual salary of a laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a laboratory manager include lab equipment, patients and customer service. The most important skills for a laboratory technician are patients, lab equipment, and customer service.
| Laboratory Manager | Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $74,314 | $40,038 |
| Hourly rate | $35.73 | $19.25 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 43,321 | 84,357 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| 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.
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 managers and laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Manager | Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $74,314 | $40,038 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $111,000 | Between $27,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Meta | Tenaska |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a laboratory manager and a laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Manager | Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | New York University |
Here are the differences between laboratory managers' and laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Laboratory Manager | Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% | Male, 53.3% Female, 46.7% |
| 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, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |