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The differences between program instructors and laboratory instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a program instructor and a laboratory instructor. Additionally, a laboratory instructor has an average salary of $49,931, which is higher than the $42,380 average annual salary of a program instructor.
The top three skills for a program instructor include patients, K-12 and math. The most important skills for a laboratory instructor are lab procedures, molecular biology, and patient care.
| Program Instructor | Laboratory Instructor | |
| Yearly salary | $42,380 | $49,931 |
| Hourly rate | $20.38 | $24.01 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 92,369 | 63,100 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A program instructor is responsible for facilitating indoor and outdoor programs with various goals and objectives catering to different participants. Program instructors must have excellent communication skills, especially on gaining the participants' attention and engaging them to join the activities prepared for the day. They also maintain a safe and creative learning environment for everyone, observing each participant's behavior and interests, developing group cooperation, and fostering personal development. A program instructor reiterates safety procedures and regulations during the program for everyone's strict compliance and immediately addresses conflicts soon as they arise.
A Laboratory Instructor works closely with students and faculty in laboratories. They set up and prepare the laboratory for experiments, and organize and maintain equipment and supplies. They also teach students how to properly use laboratory equipment, tools, and machines. Laboratory Instructors are responsible for maintaining the routine preventative maintenance of all laboratory equipment. Other duties include reinforcing laboratory housekeeping and safety protocol, coordinating with other engineering departments, and receiving, installing, and maintaining laboratory supplies and equipment.
Program instructors and laboratory instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Program Instructor | Laboratory Instructor | |
| Average salary | $42,380 | $49,931 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $60,000 | Between $31,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Urban Honolulu, HI | Springfield, MA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Los Alamos National Laboratory | Hutchinson Community College |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a program instructor and a laboratory instructor in terms of educational background:
| Program Instructor | Laboratory Instructor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between program instructors' and laboratory instructors' demographics:
| Program Instructor | Laboratory Instructor | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.7% Female, 60.3% | Male, 51.3% Female, 48.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 11.2% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 6.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 15.2% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |