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The differences between microbiology laboratory assistants and biology laboratory assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a microbiology laboratory assistant, becoming a biology laboratory assistant takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a biology laboratory assistant has an average salary of $34,240, 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 a biology laboratory assistant are lab equipment, biology laboratory, and chemistry.
| Microbiology Laboratory Assistant | Biology Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $32,736 | $34,240 |
| Hourly rate | $15.74 | $16.46 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 49,910 | 48,958 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
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.
A biology laboratory assistant is in charge of assisting scientists or researchers and performing laboratory support tasks on a daily basis. Their responsibilities include setting up and sanitizing equipment, preparing samples, maintaining documentation of all experiments and procedures, writing laboratory reports, and running errands as needed. There are also instances where they must update databases, answer calls and correspondence, and grade student papers. Furthermore, a biology laboratory assistant must maintain the cleanliness of laboratories, all while implementing its policies and regulations.
Microbiology laboratory assistants and biology laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Microbiology Laboratory Assistant | Biology Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $32,736 | $34,240 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $48,000 | Between $22,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Bridgewater, MA |
| Highest paying state | - | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | - | Massachusetts General Hospital |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a microbiology laboratory assistant and a biology laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Microbiology Laboratory Assistant | Biology Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between microbiology laboratory assistants' and biology laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Microbiology Laboratory Assistant | Biology Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.2% Female, 66.8% | Male, 36.7% Female, 63.3% |
| 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, 12.4% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 13.7% Asian, 14.9% White, 50.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |