Research laboratory manager vs research laboratory technician

The differences between research laboratory managers and research laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a research laboratory manager and a research laboratory technician. Additionally, a research laboratory manager has an average salary of $64,333, which is higher than the $38,308 average annual salary of a research laboratory technician.

The top three skills for a research laboratory manager include lab equipment, research projects and lab safety. The most important skills for a research laboratory technician are patients, chemistry, and laboratory equipment.

Research laboratory manager vs research laboratory technician overview

	Research Laboratory Manager	Research Laboratory Technician
Yearly salary	$64,333	$38,308
Hourly rate	$30.93	$18.42
Growth rate	17%	9%
Number of jobs	89,981	86,476
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age	41	40
Years of experience	4	4

What does a research laboratory manager do?

Research laboratory managers are management professionals who are responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of laboratories by implementing safety lab procedures. These managers are required to coordinate the repair and maintenance of lab equipment while training lab technicians and assistants on the correct use of equipment. They must perform experimental studies and analyze the research data collected for research projects. Research laboratory managers must also manage the inventory of laboratory equipment while coordinating the purchase of lab supplies.

What does a research laboratory technician do?

Research laboratory technicians play a vital role in scientific laboratories. They perform varied duties and responsibilities, which include setting up, operating, and maintaining the laboratory equipment, assisting in laboratory-based research activities such as sampling, testing, and analyzing results, and providing technical support to the laboratory team members. In addition, they are expected to support the development and advancement of science and modern medicine. Other typical duties of research laboratory technicians include preparing samples and specimens, keeping abreast with current technical developments, and ensuring strict compliance with safety procedures.

Research laboratory manager vs research laboratory technician salary

Research laboratory managers and research laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Research Laboratory Manager	Research Laboratory Technician
Average salary	$64,333	$38,308
Salary range	Between $45,000 And $91,000	Between $30,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City	Baltimore, MD	Chicago, IL
Highest paying state	Maryland	Illinois
Best paying company	Meta	Accenture
Best paying industry	Health Care	Manufacturing

Differences between research laboratory manager and research laboratory technician education

There are a few differences between a research laboratory manager and a research laboratory technician in terms of educational background:

	Research Laboratory Manager	Research Laboratory Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common major	Biology	Biology
Most common college	Duke University	Cornell University

Research laboratory manager vs research laboratory technician demographics

Here are the differences between research laboratory managers' and research laboratory technicians' demographics:

	Research Laboratory Manager	Research Laboratory Technician
Average age	41	40
Gender ratio	Male, 45.2% Female, 54.8%	Male, 49.0% Female, 51.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%	Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 15.7% White, 49.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5%
LGBT Percentage	8%	6%

Differences between research laboratory manager and research laboratory technician duties and responsibilities

Research laboratory manager example responsibilities.

Manage and order equipment and materials for lab usage with NIH grant and write monthly credit card reports.
Manage laboratory team activities v. assist set up and revision of project plans under the guidance of NIH vi.
Design, development and validation of cell-base assays; infrare EMSA analysis, western blotting, ELISA.
Prepare, perform RT-PCR and Q-PCR and analyze the results.
Write grant proposal, project reports, IRB applications, and documentation.
Compose and maintain all lab IRB protocols in accordance with HIPAA guidelines.

Research laboratory technician example responsibilities.

Manage RT-PCR screening of candidate genes.
Manage the development of innovative visualization and concept mapping of contest environment analysis challenges and analyst skill sets.
Use many scientific techniques to collect and analyze RNA, DNA, and specific proteins from lines of potato plants.
Preform computational molecular simulation of DNA and RNA.
Retain patients from previous research projects and update database using patient histories and correlating pertinent medical data.
Work with non human primates in an HIV testing laboratory.

Research laboratory manager vs research laboratory technician skills

Common research laboratory manager skills

Lab Equipment, 9%
Research Projects, 8%
Lab Safety, 6%
Cell Culture, 5%
Patients, 5%
Research Lab, 5%

Common research laboratory technician skills

Patients, 9%
Chemistry, 7%
Laboratory Equipment, 7%
Cell Culture, 5%
Research Data, 4%
Research Projects, 4%

Research Laboratory Manager vs. similar jobs

Research Laboratory Manager related careers

Research Laboratory Manager related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Life, Physical, and Social Science Industry
Research Laboratory Manager
Research Laboratory Manager vs Research Laboratory Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse life, physical, and social science jobs