Post job

Laboratory supervisor vs clinical laboratory assistant

The differences between laboratory supervisors and clinical laboratory assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a laboratory supervisor and a clinical laboratory assistant. Additionally, a laboratory supervisor has an average salary of $67,361, which is higher than the $32,679 average annual salary of a clinical laboratory assistant.

The top three skills for a laboratory supervisor include clinical laboratory, patients and chemistry. The most important skills for a clinical laboratory assistant are patients, phlebotomy, and clinical lab.

Laboratory supervisor vs clinical laboratory assistant overview

Laboratory SupervisorClinical Laboratory Assistant
Yearly salary$67,361$32,679
Hourly rate$32.39$15.71
Growth rate3%10%
Number of jobs49,957108,124
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age4444
Years of experience1212

What does a laboratory supervisor do?

The primary job of laboratory supervisors is to oversee the daily operations of laboratories. They are responsible for facilitating the collection, analysis, and interpretation of laboratory results. Other responsibilities include supervising personnel, managing the operating budget of the laboratory, and hiring employees. Laboratory supervisors are responsible for overseeing quality assurance and enforcing practices to ensure quality control within the laboratory. Aside from these tasks, they also manage the acquisition of laboratory equipment and supplies and resolve any technical or administrative issues within the laboratory.

What does a clinical laboratory assistant do?

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 supervisor vs clinical laboratory assistant salary

Laboratory supervisors and clinical laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Laboratory SupervisorClinical Laboratory Assistant
Average salary$67,361$32,679
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $96,000Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAAnchorage, AK
Highest paying stateCaliforniaAlaska
Best paying companyChevronRoswell Park
Best paying industryHealth CareTechnology

Differences between laboratory supervisor and clinical laboratory assistant education

There are a few differences between a laboratory supervisor and a clinical laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:

Laboratory SupervisorClinical Laboratory Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNew York University

Laboratory supervisor vs clinical laboratory assistant demographics

Here are the differences between laboratory supervisors' and clinical laboratory assistants' demographics:

Laboratory SupervisorClinical Laboratory Assistant
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 52.7% Female, 47.3%Male, 25.4% Female, 74.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 12.0% White, 53.9% 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 Percentage8%8%

Differences between laboratory supervisor and clinical laboratory assistant duties and responsibilities

Laboratory supervisor example responsibilities.

  • Manage personnel within the team, and provide guidance relating to laboratory EMR to performance improvement projects
  • Handle administrative and IRB tasks, manage fiscal matters, maintain record system of participant data.
  • Manage all static data, generate reports, run queries and support laboratories with technical knowledge and advice.
  • Manage pneumatic resistance rehabilitation lab.
  • Manage and maintain various automate laboratory equipment though GMP safe practices.
  • Assist with implementation of new procedures as laboratory works to achieving ISO certification.
  • Show more

Clinical laboratory assistant example responsibilities.

  • Achieve PHLEBOTOMY duties utilizing proper infection control techniques and perform a variety of laboratory tests.
  • Process specimen, recollect and deliver to chemistry, microbiology, molecular or hematology departments for testing.
  • Receive specimens for microbiology, histology, cytology, anatomic pathology and hematology tests/procedures, checks for proper identification and requisition.
  • Operate EKG and other equipment to administer routine diagnostic tests.
  • Transfer of samples from racks to centrifuges and decant station.
  • Administer EKG's, clean wounds, draw labs, and apply dressings.
  • Show more

Laboratory supervisor vs clinical laboratory assistant skills

Common laboratory supervisor skills
  • Clinical Laboratory, 11%
  • Patients, 10%
  • Chemistry, 6%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • Lab Equipment, 5%
  • Test Results, 5%
Common clinical laboratory assistant skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Phlebotomy, 14%
  • Clinical Lab, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Specimen Collection, 4%
  • Patient Care, 4%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs