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The differences between microbiology laboratory assistants and laboratory supervisors 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 a laboratory supervisor. Additionally, a laboratory supervisor has an average salary of $67,361, 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 laboratory supervisor are clinical laboratory, patients, and chemistry.
| Microbiology Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Yearly salary | $32,736 | $67,361 |
| Hourly rate | $15.74 | $32.39 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 49,910 | 49,957 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| 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 job of laboratory supervisors is to oversee the daily operations of laboratories. They are responsible for facilitating the collection, analysis, and interpretation of laboratory results. Other responsibilities include supervising personnel, managing the operating budget of the laboratory, and hiring employees. Laboratory supervisors are responsible for overseeing quality assurance and enforcing practices to ensure quality control within the laboratory. Aside from these tasks, they also manage the acquisition of laboratory equipment and supplies and resolve any technical or administrative issues within the laboratory.
Microbiology laboratory assistants and laboratory supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Microbiology Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Average salary | $32,736 | $67,361 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $48,000 | Between $47,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Chevron |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a microbiology laboratory assistant and a laboratory supervisor in terms of educational background:
| Microbiology Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between microbiology laboratory assistants' and laboratory supervisors' demographics:
| Microbiology Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Supervisor | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.2% Female, 66.8% | Male, 52.7% Female, 47.3% |
| 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, 10.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 12.0% White, 53.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |