Laboratory specialist vs clinical laboratory scientist

The differences between laboratory specialists and clinical laboratory scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a laboratory specialist and a clinical laboratory scientist. Additionally, a clinical laboratory scientist has an average salary of $67,900, which is higher than the $50,357 average annual salary of a laboratory specialist.

The top three skills for a laboratory specialist include chemistry, patients and test results. The most important skills for a clinical laboratory scientist are patients, test results, and microbiology.

Laboratory specialist vs clinical laboratory scientist overview

	Laboratory Specialist	Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Yearly salary	$50,357	$67,900
Hourly rate	$24.21	$32.64
Growth rate	10%	17%
Number of jobs	68,634	133,838
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	2	2

What does a laboratory specialist do?

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.

What does a clinical laboratory scientist do?

A Clinical Laboratory Scientist is responsible for performing laboratory tests that doctors count on to correctly diagnose and treat patients. They examine body fluids, tissues, and cells, identify infective microorganisms, and analyze the chemical constituents of body fluids.

Laboratory specialist vs clinical laboratory scientist salary

Laboratory specialists and clinical laboratory scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Laboratory Specialist	Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Average salary	$50,357	$67,900
Salary range	Between $36,000 And $69,000	Between $46,000 And $99,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	Santa Rosa, CA
Highest paying state	Hawaii	Alaska
Best paying company	Nokia	Westpac
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between laboratory specialist and clinical laboratory scientist education

There are a few differences between a laboratory specialist and a clinical laboratory scientist in terms of educational background:

	Laboratory Specialist	Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common major	Biology	Medical Technician
Most common college	SUNY Stony Brook	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Laboratory specialist vs clinical laboratory scientist demographics

Here are the differences between laboratory specialists' and clinical laboratory scientists' demographics:

	Laboratory Specialist	Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 47.3% Female, 52.7%	Male, 34.8% Female, 65.2%
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, 9.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 15.4% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between laboratory specialist and clinical laboratory scientist duties and responsibilities

Laboratory specialist example responsibilities.

Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
Process specimens in the areas of chemistry, toxicology, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, serology, and microbiology.
Perform general routine clinical laboratory testing in the areas of clinical chemistry, hematology, coagulation, urinalysis and blood bank.
Perform DNA and RNA isolation, standard and real time PCR, primer design, gene sequence analysis.
Perform clinical laboratory procedures in hematology, clinical chemistry and urinalysis.
Provide customer service to patients and clinicians while collecting specimens and providing patient education.

Clinical laboratory scientist example responsibilities.

Analyze specimens in hematology, coagulation, urinalysis, chemistry, toxicology, blood bank, and limit microbiology and serology.
Perform testing on donor and patient samples on platforms using methodologies including EIA, CLIA, and NAT (PCR).
Perform patient blood analysis, interpret serology, immunology and flowcytometry results.
Provide phlebotomy, specimen processing and laboratory testing for clinical trial studies.
Analyze specimens in areas of hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, and clinical chemistry within time constraints in a high-volume environment.
Perform microbiology, mycology and bacteriology

Laboratory specialist vs clinical laboratory scientist skills

Common laboratory specialist skills

Chemistry, 10%
Patients, 10%
Test Results, 8%
Laboratory Tests, 7%
Patient Care, 6%
Centrifuges, 5%

Common clinical laboratory scientist skills

Patients, 12%
Test Results, 8%
Microbiology, 7%
CLS, 7%
Hematology, 6%
ASCP, 6%

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Laboratory Specialist
Laboratory Specialist vs Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Updated January 8, 2025

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