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The differences between laboratory support technicians and 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 support technician and a laboratory assistant. Additionally, a laboratory support technician has an average salary of $36,799, which is higher than the $34,168 average annual salary of a laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a laboratory support technician include patients, phlebotomy and customer service. The most important skills for a laboratory assistant are patients, phlebotomy, and customer service.
| Laboratory Support Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $36,799 | $34,168 |
| Hourly rate | $17.69 | $16.43 |
| Growth rate | - | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 131,128 | 50,853 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| 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.
Laboratory assistants work for researchers, scientists, or professors in the laboratory setting. They are expected to have a solid background in the field of study of the laboratory they are assigned to. They do a variety of tasks in the laboratory, such as setting up equipment, observing experiments, analyzing results, creating reports, and recommending improvements to the testing. They may also be assigned to clean and sanitize laboratory equipment as needed. Laboratory assistants should have good research skills, analytical skills, and organizational skills.
Laboratory support technicians and laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Support Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $36,799 | $34,168 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $50,000 | Between $26,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Thousand Oaks, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Sandia National Labs | UST Global |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a laboratory support technician and a laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Support Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | New York University |
Here are the differences between laboratory support technicians' and laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Laboratory Support Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.4% Female, 54.6% | Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4% |
| 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, 9.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 13.9% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |