Laboratory supervisor vs laboratory director

The differences between laboratory supervisors and laboratory directors 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 laboratory director takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a laboratory director has an average salary of $92,971, which is higher than the $67,361 average annual salary of a laboratory supervisor.

The top three skills for a laboratory supervisor include clinical laboratory, patients and chemistry. The most important skills for a laboratory director are clinical laboratory, patients, and patient care.

Laboratory supervisor vs laboratory director overview

	Laboratory Supervisor	Laboratory Director
Yearly salary	$67,361	$92,971
Hourly rate	$32.39	$44.70
Growth rate	3%	28%
Number of jobs	49,957	59,500
Job satisfaction	5	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age	44	47
Years of experience	12	6

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 laboratory director do?

A Laboratory Director is responsible for the overall operation and administration of the laboratory. They examine data, create reports, manage the staff, and ensure that the lab facility operates in accordance with the regulatory provisions of the government and the organization.

Laboratory supervisor vs laboratory director salary

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

	Laboratory Supervisor	Laboratory Director
Average salary	$67,361	$92,971
Salary range	Between $47,000 And $96,000	Between $55,000 And $156,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	Delaware
Best paying company	Chevron	Reed Smith
Best paying industry	Health Care	Media

Differences between laboratory supervisor and laboratory director education

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

	Laboratory Supervisor	Laboratory Director
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common major	Biology	Biology
Most common college	Northwestern University	University of Pennsylvania

Laboratory supervisor vs laboratory director demographics

Here are the differences between laboratory supervisors' and laboratory directors' demographics:

	Laboratory Supervisor	Laboratory Director
Average age	44	47
Gender ratio	Male, 52.7% Female, 47.3%	Male, 55.9% Female, 44.1%
Race ratio	Black 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, 10.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 8.1% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	8%	12%

Differences between laboratory supervisor and laboratory director 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.

Laboratory director example responsibilities.

Perform and manage quality control, maintenance and calibration of all equipment in hematology, coagulation and urinalysis.
Set up forensic DNA laboratory, train laboratory technicians in advance molecular techniques, and manage day-to-day activities of forensic DNA laboratory
Consult patients on various laboratory procedures involve in IVF.
Supervise 8 managers and 130 full-time employees (FTEs).
Focus on sterility, endotoxin, water and bioburden testing.
Restore compliance integrity of lab back to full capacity in time for JCAHO inspection.

Laboratory supervisor vs laboratory director skills

Common laboratory supervisor skills

Clinical Laboratory, 11%
Patients, 10%
Chemistry, 6%
Patient Care, 5%
Lab Equipment, 5%
Test Results, 5%

Common laboratory director skills

Clinical Laboratory, 11%
Patients, 10%
Patient Care, 9%
CLIA, 6%
Test Results, 6%
Laboratory Services, 4%

Laboratory Supervisor vs. similar jobs

Laboratory Supervisor related careers

Laboratory Supervisor related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Laboratory Supervisor
Laboratory Supervisor vs Laboratory Director

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs