Laboratory technician vs laboratory specialist

The differences between laboratory technicians and laboratory specialists 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 specialist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a laboratory specialist has an average salary of $50,357, 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 specialist are chemistry, patients, and test results.

Laboratory technician vs laboratory specialist overview

	Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Specialist
Yearly salary	$40,038	$50,357
Hourly rate	$19.25	$24.21
Growth rate	4%	10%
Number of jobs	84,357	68,634
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	12	2

What does a laboratory technician do?

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.

What does a laboratory specialist do?

A laboratory specialist develops the areas assigned to them and promotes maximum resource allocation and utilization to achieve their goals. Laboratory specialists handle storage and backup devices, support telecommunication-associated equipment, and relay customer requests and issues. It is their job to process specimens in toxicology, coagulation, microbiology, hematology, chemistry, and urinalysis. Skills and knowledge in a photo lab, cell culture, customer service, and test cases are necessary for this position.

Laboratory technician vs laboratory specialist salary

Laboratory technicians and laboratory specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Specialist
Average salary	$40,038	$50,357
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $58,000	Between $36,000 And $69,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	Alaska	Hawaii
Best paying company	Tenaska	Nokia
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between laboratory technician and laboratory specialist education

There are a few differences between a laboratory technician and a laboratory specialist in terms of educational background:

	Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Specialist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common major	Biology	Biology
Most common college	New York University	SUNY Stony Brook

Laboratory technician vs laboratory specialist demographics

Here are the differences between laboratory technicians' and laboratory specialists' demographics:

	Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Specialist
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 53.3% Female, 46.7%	Male, 47.3% Female, 52.7%
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, 10.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between laboratory technician and laboratory specialist duties and responsibilities

Laboratory technician example responsibilities.

Lead aerobic, anaerobic and UV light testing, chemical residue testing and centrifuge to separate chemicals from water.
Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
Analyze and paid attention to detail as well as demonstrated excellent organization skills, manual dexterity and good eyesight.
Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate with EKG equipment and notify physician is something appears to be wrong.
Monitor several color formulations being manufacture in the production department to ensure manufacturing procedures are follow per ISO and GMP.
Perform age appropriate phlebotomy while working with critically or terminally ill patients, with careful respect for individual and/or cultural concerns.

Laboratory specialist example responsibilities.

Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
Process specimens in the areas of chemistry, toxicology, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, serology, and microbiology.
Perform general routine clinical laboratory testing in the areas of clinical chemistry, hematology, coagulation, urinalysis and blood bank.
Perform DNA and RNA isolation, standard and real time PCR, primer design, gene sequence analysis.
Perform clinical laboratory procedures in hematology, clinical chemistry and urinalysis.
Provide customer service to patients and clinicians while collecting specimens and providing patient education.

Laboratory technician vs laboratory specialist skills

Common laboratory technician skills

Patients, 17%
Lab Equipment, 8%
Customer Service, 6%
Basic Math, 4%
Test Results, 4%
Math, 4%

Common laboratory specialist skills

Chemistry, 10%
Patients, 10%
Test Results, 8%
Laboratory Tests, 7%
Patient Care, 6%
Centrifuges, 5%

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Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician vs Laboratory Specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

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