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Laboratory supervisor vs histologic technician

The differences between laboratory supervisors and histologic technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a laboratory supervisor, becoming a histologic technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a laboratory supervisor has an average salary of $67,361, which is higher than the $49,962 average annual salary of a histologic technician.

The top three skills for a laboratory supervisor include clinical laboratory, patients and chemistry. The most important skills for a histologic technician are ASCP, patients, and tissue specimens.

Laboratory supervisor vs histologic technician overview

Laboratory SupervisorHistologic Technician
Yearly salary$67,361$49,962
Hourly rate$32.39$24.02
Growth rate3%-
Number of jobs49,9576,785
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age4444
Years of experience122

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 histologic technician do?

A Histologic Technician prepares tissue specimens for routine and special procedures to confirm a patient diagnosis. They work in hospital laboratories, government agencies, public health departments, and other institutions.

Laboratory supervisor vs histologic technician salary

Laboratory supervisors and histologic technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Laboratory SupervisorHistologic Technician
Average salary$67,361$49,962
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $96,000Between $33,000 And $75,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASacramento, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaAlaska
Best paying companyChevronBattelle
Best paying industryHealth Care-

Differences between laboratory supervisor and histologic technician education

There are a few differences between a laboratory supervisor and a histologic technician in terms of educational background:

Laboratory SupervisorHistologic Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityStanford University

Laboratory supervisor vs histologic technician demographics

Here are the differences between laboratory supervisors' and histologic technicians' demographics:

Laboratory SupervisorHistologic Technician
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 52.7% Female, 47.3%Male, 30.4% Female, 69.6%
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, 10.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between laboratory supervisor and histologic technician 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

Histologic technician example responsibilities.

  • Perform routine histology/cytology procedures and IHC and manage 7-20 staff members.
  • Develop and implement health and safety protocols and procedures in accordance with CLIA and OSHA regulations
  • Develop a higher grade eosin for stainline.
  • Enter patient specimens into the EMR system/file patient records.
  • Cut all control slides for research and run all immunofluorescence slides.
  • Perform processing, embedding, microtomy, cryostating, routine and special stains.
  • Show more

Laboratory supervisor vs histologic technician skills

Common laboratory supervisor skills
  • Clinical Laboratory, 11%
  • Patients, 10%
  • Chemistry, 6%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • Lab Equipment, 5%
  • Test Results, 5%
Common histologic technician skills
  • ASCP, 15%
  • Patients, 12%
  • Tissue Specimens, 5%
  • CLIA, 4%
  • IHC, 4%
  • Sectioning, 4%

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