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The differences between laboratory technicians and laboratory coordinators 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 technician, becoming a laboratory coordinator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a laboratory coordinator has an average salary of $52,690, which is higher than the $40,038 average annual salary of a laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a laboratory technician include patients, lab equipment and customer service. The most important skills for a laboratory coordinator are lab equipment, patients, and patient care.
| Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $40,038 | $52,690 |
| Hourly rate | $19.25 | $25.33 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 84,357 | 64,914 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
Laboratory technicians are medical professionals who work in the laboratory. They are responsible for the equipment in the laboratory, making sure tools are properly sanitized and sterilized after every use. They also ensure that laboratory equipment works well. Laboratory technicians may also be responsible for collecting and testing samples from patients. They prepare solutions and other chemicals that may be needed for testing. They also provide an analysis of the samples that they tested. Laboratory technicians ensure that all items in the laboratory are properly labeled and organized.
A laboratory coordinator is responsible for supporting laboratory examinations and experiments, collecting laboratory samples, and ensuring the efficiency and performance of laboratory tools and equipment. Laboratory coordinators maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the laboratory facility at all times to avoid contaminations and hazards that may affect laboratory results and accuracy of examinations. They also perform scientific processes under the supervision of a scientist or laboratory technicians and keep an organized report of findings in the database.
Laboratory technicians and laboratory coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $40,038 | $52,690 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $58,000 | Between $38,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Tenaska | AbbVie |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a laboratory technician and a laboratory coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between laboratory technicians' and laboratory coordinators' demographics:
| Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Coordinator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.3% Female, 46.7% | Male, 41.5% Female, 58.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |