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The differences between laboratory 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 technician and a laboratory supervisor. Additionally, a laboratory supervisor has an average salary of $67,361, 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 supervisor are clinical laboratory, patients, and chemistry.
| Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Yearly salary | $40,038 | $67,361 |
| Hourly rate | $19.25 | $32.39 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 84,357 | 49,957 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
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 technicians and laboratory supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Average salary | $40,038 | $67,361 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $58,000 | Between $47,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Tenaska | Chevron |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a laboratory technician and a laboratory supervisor in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between laboratory technicians' and laboratory supervisors' demographics:
| Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.3% Female, 46.7% | Male, 52.7% Female, 47.3% |
| 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, 17.7% Asian, 12.0% White, 53.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |