Molecular laboratory technologist vs laboratory specialist

The differences between molecular laboratory technologists and laboratory specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a molecular laboratory technologist and a laboratory specialist. Additionally, a molecular laboratory technologist has an average salary of $51,239, which is higher than the $50,357 average annual salary of a laboratory specialist.

The top three skills for a molecular laboratory technologist include next-generation sequencing, clinical laboratory and molecular biology. The most important skills for a laboratory specialist are chemistry, patients, and test results.

Molecular laboratory technologist vs laboratory specialist overview

	Molecular Laboratory Technologist	Laboratory Specialist
Yearly salary	$51,239	$50,357
Hourly rate	$24.63	$24.21
Growth rate	-	10%
Number of jobs	86,280	68,634
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 77%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	2	2

What does a molecular laboratory technologist do?

A molecular laboratory technologist performs a number of duties to analyze samples in a laboratory setting. Their duties in this position are to collect samples for research, test specimens with a variety of equipment, and study how clinical drugs affect the samples. They are also responsible for maintaining data analysis records, troubleshooting issues, and preparing lab equipment. This position requires advanced education training in molecular biology.

What does a laboratory specialist do?

A laboratory specialist develops the areas assigned to them and promotes maximum resource allocation and utilization to achieve their goals. Laboratory specialists handle storage and backup devices, support telecommunication-associated equipment, and relay customer requests and issues. It is their job to process specimens in toxicology, coagulation, microbiology, hematology, chemistry, and urinalysis. Skills and knowledge in a photo lab, cell culture, customer service, and test cases are necessary for this position.

Molecular laboratory technologist vs laboratory specialist salary

Molecular laboratory technologists and laboratory specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Molecular Laboratory Technologist	Laboratory Specialist
Average salary	$51,239	$50,357
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $69,000	Between $36,000 And $69,000
Highest paying City	-	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	-	Hawaii
Best paying company	-	Nokia
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between molecular laboratory technologist and laboratory specialist education

There are a few differences between a molecular laboratory technologist and a laboratory specialist in terms of educational background:

	Molecular Laboratory Technologist	Laboratory Specialist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 77%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common major	Biology	Biology
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	SUNY Stony Brook

Molecular laboratory technologist vs laboratory specialist demographics

Here are the differences between molecular laboratory technologists' and laboratory specialists' demographics:

	Molecular Laboratory Technologist	Laboratory Specialist
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 33.9% Female, 66.1%	Male, 47.3% Female, 52.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 14.1% White, 53.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between molecular laboratory technologist and laboratory specialist duties and responsibilities

Molecular laboratory technologist example responsibilities.

Operate and manage standard quality control on laboratory equipment as well as some specialize equipment for serology studies.
Perform routine clinical tests on several enzymatic tests for galactosemia disease using paper chromatography - radiation imaging detection, spectrophotometry.
Interview and hire new employees.verse in HIPAA regulations to protect patient confidentiality.

Laboratory specialist example responsibilities.

Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
Process specimens in the areas of chemistry, toxicology, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, serology, and microbiology.
Perform general routine clinical laboratory testing in the areas of clinical chemistry, hematology, coagulation, urinalysis and blood bank.
Perform DNA and RNA isolation, standard and real time PCR, primer design, gene sequence analysis.
Perform clinical laboratory procedures in hematology, clinical chemistry and urinalysis.
Provide customer service to patients and clinicians while collecting specimens and providing patient education.

Molecular laboratory technologist vs laboratory specialist skills

Common molecular laboratory technologist skills

Next-Generation Sequencing, 18%
Clinical Laboratory, 11%
Molecular Biology, 7%
Control Procedures, 7%
Extraction, 6%
Sops, 6%

Common laboratory specialist skills

Chemistry, 10%
Patients, 10%
Test Results, 8%
Laboratory Tests, 7%
Patient Care, 6%
Centrifuges, 5%

Molecular Laboratory Technologist vs. similar jobs

Molecular Laboratory Technologist related careers

Molecular Laboratory Technologist related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Molecular Laboratory Technologist
Molecular Laboratory Technologist vs Laboratory Specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs