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Laboratory specialist vs specialist

The differences between laboratory specialists and specialists 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 specialist. Additionally, a specialist has an average salary of $58,013, 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 specialist are patients, customer service, and work ethic.

Laboratory specialist vs specialist overview

Laboratory SpecialistSpecialist
Yearly salary$50,357$58,013
Hourly rate$24.21$27.89
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs68,634358,433
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age4442
Years of experience22

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 specialist do?

Specialists are employees who are responsible for specific tasks or activities in the department they are assigned to. The actions or tasks they work on are related to their educational background or work experiences. They are usually highly skilled in specializations related to the work they are assigned to. Specialists are also highly trained on the competencies that are required of their specialty. As such, they are focused on the skills and competencies that are needed to enhance their experience in their specific field further.

Laboratory specialist vs specialist salary

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

Laboratory SpecialistSpecialist
Average salary$50,357$58,013
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $69,000Between $32,000 And $104,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MAJersey City, NJ
Highest paying stateHawaiiNew Jersey
Best paying companyNokiaThe Citadel
Best paying industryHealth Care-

Differences between laboratory specialist and specialist education

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

Laboratory SpecialistSpecialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorBiologyBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY Stony BrookStanford University

Laboratory specialist vs specialist demographics

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

Laboratory SpecialistSpecialist
Average age4442
Gender ratioMale, 47.3% Female, 52.7%Male, 47.5% Female, 52.5%
Race ratioBlack 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, 11.4% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%11%

Differences between laboratory specialist and specialist 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.
  • Show more

Specialist example responsibilities.

  • Create, manage, and assist users with SharePoint sites.
  • Manage an on-site IRB and company good clinical practice (GCP) inspection.
  • Manage SharePoint sites by creating, editing, and customizing company sites, libraries and security.
  • Manage the building of accounts, assigning of static IP's, and scheduling of business class installations.
  • Convert servers from UNIX to Linux, all hardware diagnostics and repair including printers/plotters/desktops etc.
  • Follow safety procedures such as maintenance of all equipment (Telxon scanners, terminals and ladders).
  • Show more

Laboratory specialist vs specialist skills

Common laboratory specialist skills
  • Chemistry, 10%
  • Patients, 10%
  • Test Results, 8%
  • Laboratory Tests, 7%
  • Patient Care, 6%
  • Centrifuges, 5%
Common specialist skills
  • Patients, 15%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Work Ethic, 5%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Exceptional Client, 4%
  • Troubleshoot, 4%

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