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The differences between laboratory specialists and clinical laboratory assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a laboratory specialist, becoming a clinical laboratory assistant takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a laboratory specialist has an average salary of $50,357, which is higher than the $32,679 average annual salary of a clinical laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a laboratory specialist include chemistry, patients and test results. The most important skills for a clinical laboratory assistant are patients, phlebotomy, and clinical lab.
| Laboratory Specialist | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $50,357 | $32,679 |
| Hourly rate | $24.21 | $15.71 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 68,634 | 108,124 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A laboratory specialist develops the areas assigned to them and promotes maximum resource allocation and utilization to achieve their goals. Laboratory specialists handle storage and backup devices, support telecommunication-associated equipment, and relay customer requests and issues. It is their job to process specimens in toxicology, coagulation, microbiology, hematology, chemistry, and urinalysis. Skills and knowledge in a photo lab, cell culture, customer service, and test cases are necessary for this position.
A clinical laboratory assistant specializes in performing support tasks in a laboratory or similar setting using their in-depth knowledge. They are primarily responsible for assisting researchers, preparing samples and apparatus, conducting experiments and analysis, maintaining extensive documentation of all processes and results, and reporting to management. Moreover, a clinical laboratory assistant is also responsible for gathering necessary information before beginning studies and maintaining the laboratory's cleanliness and sanitation. It is vital to implement all the safety rules and regulations to ensure a safe and productive work environment.
Laboratory specialists and clinical laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Specialist | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $50,357 | $32,679 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $69,000 | Between $26,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Nokia | Roswell Park |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a laboratory specialist and a clinical laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Specialist | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | SUNY Stony Brook | New York University |
Here are the differences between laboratory specialists' and clinical laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Laboratory Specialist | Clinical Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.3% Female, 52.7% | Male, 25.4% Female, 74.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.1% White, 54.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |