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The differences between microbiology laboratory assistants and assistant laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a microbiology laboratory assistant and an assistant laboratory technician. Additionally, an assistant laboratory technician has an average salary of $35,556, which is higher than the $32,736 average annual salary of a microbiology laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a microbiology laboratory assistant include patients, lab equipment and data entry. The most important skills for an assistant laboratory technician are patients, ladders, and computer lab.
| Microbiology Laboratory Assistant | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $32,736 | $35,556 |
| Hourly rate | $15.74 | $17.09 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 49,910 | 116,488 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Microbiology Laboratory Assistants are responsible for assisting laboratory technicians with sample preparation and workplace maintenance in the area of microbiology. Their duties include preparing samples for testing, maintaining laboratory inventory, reporting inventory shortages, and producing inventory reports. Besides that, they are involved in organizing laboratory areas, sterilizing laboratory equipment, and maintain testings log. Microbiology Laboratory Assistants also assist in equipment set up, results analysis, and sample classification. They continuously ensure the operational environment complies with health and safety standards.
The primary responsibility of a lab assistant is to help scientists and technologists. Lab assistants are assigned to prepare and monitor tests and experiments in research or medical laboratory. They analyze data and establish reports based on test results. Also, they set up the tools and equipment used in the lab. It is also part of their job to clean the lab rooms--knowledge in lab management, communication skills, attention to detail, and medical-related management.
Microbiology laboratory assistants and assistant laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Microbiology Laboratory Assistant | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $32,736 | $35,556 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $48,000 | Between $21,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Manchester, NH |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Patterson-UTI Energy |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a microbiology laboratory assistant and an assistant laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Microbiology Laboratory Assistant | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | University of Maryland - College Park |
Here are the differences between microbiology laboratory assistants' and assistant laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Microbiology Laboratory Assistant | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.2% Female, 66.8% | Male, 71.6% Female, 28.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 12.2% White, 54.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |