Microbiological laboratory technician vs laboratory analyst

The differences between microbiological laboratory technicians and laboratory analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a microbiological laboratory technician, becoming a laboratory analyst takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a laboratory analyst has an average salary of $44,024, which is higher than the $38,713 average annual salary of a microbiological laboratory technician.

The top three skills for a microbiological laboratory technician include microbiology lab, laboratory procedures and aseptic technique. The most important skills for a laboratory analyst are test methods, lab equipment, and lims.

Microbiological laboratory technician vs laboratory analyst overview

	Microbiological Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Analyst
Yearly salary	$38,713	$44,024
Hourly rate	$18.61	$21.17
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	44,567	44,074
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 79%	Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age	40	38
Years of experience	4	2

What does a microbiological laboratory technician do?

A microbiological laboratory technician specializes in handling and testing samples, ensuring accuracy and safety. Often working under the supervision of a more experienced scientist, a microbiological laboratory technician has the responsibility to operate various devices and machines, record all progress and data, review results, and produce reports and documentation. There are also instances when a technician must submit results within deadlines or follow a senior scientist's directives. Furthermore, it is essential to adhere to the safety policies and rules of the laboratory at all times.

What does a laboratory analyst do?

A Laboratory Analyst helps conduct experiments, run laboratory tests, and analyze results. They compile and record data for the documentation needed for testing and report preparation.

Microbiological laboratory technician vs laboratory analyst salary

Microbiological laboratory technicians and laboratory analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Microbiological Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Analyst
Average salary	$38,713	$44,024
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $50,000	Between $31,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City	Burlington, MA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	New York
Best paying company	AstraZeneca	AbbVie
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Pharmaceutical

Differences between microbiological laboratory technician and laboratory analyst education

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

	Microbiological Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Analyst
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 79%	Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common major	Biology	Biology
Most common college	Cornell University	Stanford University

Microbiological laboratory technician vs laboratory analyst demographics

Here are the differences between microbiological laboratory technicians' and laboratory analysts' demographics:

	Microbiological Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Analyst
Average age	40	38
Gender ratio	Male, 36.0% Female, 64.0%	Male, 48.3% Female, 51.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 15.2% White, 51.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3%	Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	6%	8%

Differences between microbiological laboratory technician and laboratory analyst duties and responsibilities

Microbiological laboratory technician example responsibilities.

Job duties begin in a general microbiology/ infectious disease laboratory focuse on cultivating and managing infectious strains of microbes.
Interpret titration curves, nmr graphs, IR spectroscopy and GC graphs.
Prepare bacterial, fungus and yeast cell cultures used for GLP testing under FDA/EPA guidelines.
contract )--cut fabric for testing--run Laund-Orometer--ICP, AA, titration
Conduct schedule preventive maintenance and calibration of equipment (i.e., GC/MS, HPLC, GPC, pH meter).
Test in-house USP water samples for microbiological contamination.

Laboratory analyst example responsibilities.

Use sophisticate laboratory instrumentation (HPLC, FTIR, UV, GC) and computer systems to collect and record data.
Analyze organic compounds using gravimetric, titration, distillation and spectrophotometry methods.
Prepare for and represent the laboratory during FDA, customer, and ISO audits.
Complete preparation of organic samples for GC, HPLC, IR and GCMS analysis.
Prepare solid and aqueous samples for analysis on diagnostic instruments including GC, GCMS and IC.
Utilize internal LIMS computer database for data entry and communication.

Microbiological laboratory technician vs laboratory analyst skills

Common microbiological laboratory technician skills

Microbiology Lab, 9%
Laboratory Procedures, 7%
Aseptic Technique, 6%
Lab Equipment, 6%
Food Safety, 6%
Test Results, 5%

Common laboratory analyst skills

Test Methods, 8%
Lab Equipment, 7%
Lims, 5%
Laboratory Procedures, 5%
Sample Preparation, 5%
Analytical Methods, 4%

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Microbiological Laboratory Technician
Microbiological Laboratory Technician vs Laboratory Analyst

Updated January 8, 2025

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