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Laboratory manager vs lead laboratory technician

The differences between laboratory managers and lead 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 lead laboratory technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a laboratory manager has an average salary of $74,314, which is higher than the $54,230 average annual salary of a lead laboratory technician.

The top three skills for a laboratory manager include lab equipment, patients and customer service. The most important skills for a lead laboratory technician are patients, lab equipment, and customer service.

Laboratory manager vs lead laboratory technician overview

Laboratory ManagerLead Laboratory Technician
Yearly salary$74,314$54,230
Hourly rate$35.73$26.07
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs43,32177,096
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4844
Years of experience612

What does a laboratory manager do?

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.

What does a lead laboratory technician do?

A Lead Laboratory Technician coordinates the operations of a laboratory. They supervise the preparation of specimens for tests, collection of blood, examination of blood samples, and other duties performed by the technician team.

Laboratory manager vs lead laboratory technician salary

Laboratory managers and lead laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Laboratory ManagerLead Laboratory Technician
Average salary$74,314$54,230
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $111,000Between $33,000 And $86,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASouth San Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateHawaiiNew Jersey
Best paying companyMetaMeta
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalManufacturing

Differences between laboratory manager and lead laboratory technician education

There are a few differences between a laboratory manager and a lead laboratory technician in terms of educational background:

Laboratory ManagerLead Laboratory Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeStanford UniversityNew York University

Laboratory manager vs lead laboratory technician demographics

Here are the differences between laboratory managers' and lead laboratory technicians' demographics:

Laboratory ManagerLead Laboratory Technician
Average age4844
Gender ratioMale, 58.4% Female, 41.6%Male, 58.2% Female, 41.8%
Race ratioBlack 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, 9.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between laboratory manager and lead laboratory technician duties and responsibilities

Laboratory manager example responsibilities.

  • Lead laboratory investigations, OOS, deviations, change controls and CAPA.
  • Manage daily personnel challenges, assist with marketing and maintain appropriate standards and regulations per JCAHO, DNV.
  • Manage staff and oversee FDA guidelines and regulations for pharmaceutical research
  • Initiate and manage successful in-house design and implementation of network base LIMS database.
  • Manage curriculum development, authore and publish lab manuals in physiology and ecology.
  • Manage daily laboratory operations including personnel, client consulting, analyses and adherence to GLP protocols.
    • Show more

Lead laboratory technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
  • Set up, adjust, calibrate, clean, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory instruments.
  • Assist with FDA and OSHA audits, coordinate the center for all audits and inspections.
  • Accession patient information, doctor information, and testing information accurately and promptly into the NovoPath LIS system.
  • Develop and execute IQ/OQ/PQ at manufacturing site.
  • Maintain, troubleshoot, verify and calibrate laboratory equipment.
    • Show more

Laboratory manager vs lead laboratory technician skills

Common laboratory manager skills
  • Lab Equipment, 12%
  • Patients, 9%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Chemistry, 6%
  • Clinical Laboratory, 5%
  • Lab Safety, 5%
Common lead laboratory technician skills
  • Patients, 12%
  • Lab Equipment, 11%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Ongoing Maintenance, 5%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Chemistry, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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