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The differences between laboratory support technicians and laboratory supervisors 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 supervisor. Additionally, a laboratory supervisor has an average salary of $67,361, which is higher than the $36,799 average annual salary of a laboratory support technician.
The top three skills for a laboratory support technician include patients, phlebotomy and customer service. The most important skills for a laboratory supervisor are clinical laboratory, patients, and chemistry.
| Laboratory Support Technician | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Yearly salary | $36,799 | $67,361 |
| Hourly rate | $17.69 | $32.39 |
| Growth rate | - | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 131,128 | 49,957 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| 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 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.
Laboratory support technicians and laboratory supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Support Technician | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Average salary | $36,799 | $67,361 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $50,000 | Between $47,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Thousand Oaks, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maine | California |
| Best paying company | Sandia National Labs | Chevron |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a laboratory support technician and a laboratory supervisor in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Support Technician | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between laboratory support technicians' and laboratory supervisors' demographics:
| Laboratory Support Technician | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.4% Female, 54.6% | Male, 52.7% Female, 47.3% |
| 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, 10.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 12.0% White, 53.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |