Microbiological laboratory technician vs laboratory research assistant

The differences between microbiological laboratory technicians and laboratory research assistants 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 research assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a microbiological laboratory technician has an average salary of $38,713, which is higher than the $36,537 average annual salary of a laboratory research assistant.

The top three skills for a microbiological laboratory technician include microbiology lab, laboratory procedures and aseptic technique. The most important skills for a laboratory research assistant are data collection, patients, and laboratory equipment.

Microbiological laboratory technician vs laboratory research assistant overview

	Microbiological Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Research Assistant
Yearly salary	$38,713	$36,537
Hourly rate	$18.61	$17.57
Growth rate	9%	17%
Number of jobs	44,567	87,343
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 79%	Bachelor's Degree, 78%
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 research assistant do?

A laboratory research assistant is an individual who performs lab experiments and carries out projects designed by senior lab staff members. Laboratory research assistants design and conduct experiments using biohazards and other dangerous materials to gain information and test scientific processes. They must write detailed reports of their research and experiments and then deliver these reports in written and verbal forms. Laboratory research assistants may also work in different settings such as medical facilities and pharmaceutical companies.

Microbiological laboratory technician vs laboratory research assistant salary

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

	Microbiological Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Research Assistant
Average salary	$38,713	$36,537
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $50,000	Between $24,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	Burlington, MA	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	Massachusetts
Best paying company	AstraZeneca	New York University
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Education

Differences between microbiological laboratory technician and laboratory research assistant education

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

	Microbiological Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Research Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 79%	Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common major	Biology	Biology
Most common college	Cornell University	Harvard University

Microbiological laboratory technician vs laboratory research assistant demographics

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

	Microbiological Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Research Assistant
Average age	40	38
Gender ratio	Male, 36.0% Female, 64.0%	Male, 46.2% Female, 53.8%
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, 8.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 16.6% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage	6%	8%

Differences between microbiological laboratory technician and laboratory research assistant 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 research assistant example responsibilities.

Manage participant records according to IRB guidelines to ensure confidentiality.
Lead experiments to assess survivor behavior differences in zebrafish contaminate with dietary mercury.
Maintain microbial culture and isolate and purify bacterial and viral DNA and RNA to study the genome of common pathogenic bacteria.
Perform protein extraction on larvae.
Perform biological assays, including ELISA and RT-PCR.
Gain extensive MLST, RT-PCR, conventional PCR, primer design and gel-electrophoresis experience.

Microbiological laboratory technician vs laboratory research assistant 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 research assistant skills

Data Collection, 5%
Patients, 5%
Laboratory Equipment, 5%
Lab Procedures, 5%
Laboratory Techniques, 5%
Molecular Biology, 4%

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Microbiological Laboratory Technician
Microbiological Laboratory Technician vs Laboratory Research Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

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