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Lead laboratory assistant vs laboratory manager

The differences between lead laboratory assistants and laboratory managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a lead laboratory assistant, becoming a laboratory manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a laboratory manager has an average salary of $74,314, which is higher than the $39,437 average annual salary of a lead laboratory assistant.

The top three skills for a lead laboratory assistant include phlebotomy, laboratory specimens and patients. The most important skills for a laboratory manager are lab equipment, patients, and customer service.

Lead laboratory assistant vs laboratory manager overview

Lead Laboratory AssistantLaboratory Manager
Yearly salary$39,437$74,314
Hourly rate$18.96$35.73
Growth rate16%3%
Number of jobs40,76643,321
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4448
Years of experience126

Lead laboratory assistant vs laboratory manager salary

Lead laboratory assistants and laboratory managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Lead Laboratory AssistantLaboratory Manager
Average salary$39,437$74,314
Salary rangeBetween $18,000 And $84,000Between $49,000 And $111,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Meta
Best paying industry-Pharmaceutical

Differences between lead laboratory assistant and laboratory manager education

There are a few differences between a lead laboratory assistant and a laboratory manager in terms of educational background:

Lead Laboratory AssistantLaboratory Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeNew York UniversityStanford University

Lead laboratory assistant vs laboratory manager demographics

Here are the differences between lead laboratory assistants' and laboratory managers' demographics:

Lead Laboratory AssistantLaboratory Manager
Average age4448
Gender ratioMale, 29.9% Female, 70.1%Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 70.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between lead laboratory assistant and laboratory manager duties and responsibilities

Lead laboratory assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage daily laboratory operations including personnel, client consulting, analyses and adherence to GLP protocols.
  • Conduct a monthly inventory of the chemistry stock room supplies.
  • Conduct ongoing training of all lab assistants to use equipment properly (Stainers, processors, centrifuges etc .).
  • Prepare reagents for microbiology specimens.
  • Verify patient information, collect specimens from patients, properly labele specimen vials and submit specimens for further processing or testing.
  • Implement an in-house immunofluorescent and special chemistry department, including electrophoresis and fluorescent microscopy, resulting in lower overhead costs.

Laboratory manager example responsibilities.

  • Lead laboratory investigations, OOS, deviations, change controls and CAPA.
  • Manage daily personnel challenges, assist with marketing and maintain appropriate standards and regulations per JCAHO, DNV.
  • Manage staff and oversee FDA guidelines and regulations for pharmaceutical research
  • Initiate and manage successful in-house design and implementation of network base LIMS database.
  • Manage curriculum development, authore and publish lab manuals in physiology and ecology.
  • Manage daily laboratory operations including personnel, client consulting, analyses and adherence to GLP protocols.
  • Show more

Lead laboratory assistant vs laboratory manager skills

Common lead laboratory assistant skills
  • Phlebotomy, 21%
  • Laboratory Specimens, 17%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Patient Care, 6%
  • EMR, 4%
  • Data Collection, 4%
Common laboratory manager skills
  • Lab Equipment, 12%
  • Patients, 9%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Chemistry, 6%
  • Clinical Laboratory, 5%
  • Lab Safety, 5%

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