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The differences between laboratory support technicians and assistant laboratory technicians 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 support technician and an assistant laboratory technician. Additionally, a laboratory support technician has an average salary of $36,799, which is higher than the $35,556 average annual salary of an assistant laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a laboratory support technician include patients, phlebotomy and customer service. The most important skills for an assistant laboratory technician are patients, ladders, and computer lab.
| Laboratory Support Technician | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $36,799 | $35,556 |
| Hourly rate | $17.69 | $17.09 |
| Growth rate | - | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 131,128 | 116,488 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A laboratory support technician is responsible for assisting scientists and medical professionals in conducting experiments and laboratory examinations. Laboratory support technicians organize samples, label them accurately, and record the results timely on the system. They also ensure that all the laboratory tools and equipment are sterilized and well-maintained, avoiding possible contaminations that may affect the accuracy of deliverables. A laboratory support technician coordinates with the patients for appointments, releasing of medical results, and applying scientific methods on evaluating data. They may also perform administrative and clerical duties as needed under the supervision of a head laboratory technician.
The primary responsibility of a lab assistant is to help scientists and technologists. Lab assistants are assigned to prepare and monitor tests and experiments in research or medical laboratory. They analyze data and establish reports based on test results. Also, they set up the tools and equipment used in the lab. It is also part of their job to clean the lab rooms--knowledge in lab management, communication skills, attention to detail, and medical-related management.
Laboratory support technicians and assistant laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Support Technician | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $36,799 | $35,556 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $50,000 | Between $21,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Thousand Oaks, CA | Manchester, NH |
| Highest paying state | Maine | California |
| Best paying company | Sandia National Labs | Patterson-UTI Energy |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a laboratory support technician and an assistant laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Support Technician | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | University of Maryland - College Park |
Here are the differences between laboratory support technicians' and assistant laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Laboratory Support Technician | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.4% Female, 54.6% | Male, 71.6% Female, 28.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 10.9% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |