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The differences between laboratory support technicians and senior 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 a senior laboratory technician. Additionally, a senior laboratory technician has an average salary of $48,530, 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 senior laboratory technician are lab equipment, patients, and research projects.
| Laboratory Support Technician | Senior Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $36,799 | $48,530 |
| Hourly rate | $17.69 | $23.33 |
| Growth rate | - | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 131,128 | 63,876 |
| 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.
A Senior Laboratory Technician is responsible for supervising and coordinating scientific investigations and experiments. They supervise staff, provide technical support, and construct, maintain, and operate standard laboratory equipment.
Laboratory support technicians and senior laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Support Technician | Senior Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $36,799 | $48,530 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $50,000 | Between $34,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Thousand Oaks, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maine | California |
| Best paying company | Sandia National Labs | Genentech |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a laboratory support technician and a senior laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Support Technician | Senior Laboratory Technician | |
| 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 senior laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Laboratory Support Technician | Senior Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.4% Female, 54.6% | Male, 58.6% Female, 41.4% |
| 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, 10.5% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |