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The differences between research laboratory technicians and biology laboratory assistants 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 technician and a biology laboratory assistant. Additionally, a research laboratory technician has an average salary of $38,308, which is higher than the $34,240 average annual salary of a biology laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a research laboratory technician include patients, chemistry and laboratory equipment. The most important skills for a biology laboratory assistant are lab equipment, biology laboratory, and chemistry.
| Research Laboratory Technician | Biology Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $38,308 | $34,240 |
| Hourly rate | $18.42 | $16.46 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 86,476 | 48,958 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
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.
Research laboratory technicians and biology laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Laboratory Technician | Biology Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $38,308 | $34,240 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $48,000 | Between $22,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chicago, IL | Bridgewater, MA |
| Highest paying state | Illinois | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Accenture | Massachusetts General Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Government |
There are a few differences between a research laboratory technician and a biology laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Research Laboratory Technician | Biology Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between research laboratory technicians' and biology laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Research Laboratory Technician | Biology Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.0% Female, 51.0% | Male, 36.7% Female, 63.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 6% | 6% |