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The differences between sample prep technicians and microbiologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a sample prep technician and a microbiologist. Additionally, a microbiologist has an average salary of $54,620, which is higher than the $42,504 average annual salary of a sample prep technician.
The top three skills for a sample prep technician include QC, lab equipment and AA. The most important skills for a microbiologist are lab equipment, microbiology lab, and environmental monitoring.
| Sample Prep Technician | Microbiologist | |
| Yearly salary | $42,504 | $54,620 |
| Hourly rate | $20.43 | $26.26 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 63,971 | 11,444 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Sample Prep Technicians are responsible for carrying out sample preparation and laboratory testings. Their duties include client samples sorting and logging, conducting preliminary sample preparation, monitoring temperatures of freezers and refrigerators, cleaning of N-Evap, water baths refrigerators, and foreheads, and making sure proper procedures for sample returning, disposal, and archiving. They calibrate equipment such as pipettes, syringes, and balances, wash glassware, dispose of waste solvents, salinize liners and glass wools and sustain standard inventory. Sample Prep Technicians also perform equipment repair, assist laboratory technician, and ensure work adhere to organizations environmental, quality, health, and safety policies.
Microbiologists are responsible for studying the microscopic organisms causing infections and environmental damage, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Their work focuses on the identification and growth of these microbes to better understand their characteristics that may help in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious and bacterial diseases. They use sophisticated technologies and machinery to study microbes and perform their tasks. These scientists are also responsible for developing best practices and techniques for routine sampling and research. Microbiologists may work in various settings, including laboratories, research institutes, and hospitals.
Sample prep technicians and microbiologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Sample Prep Technician | Microbiologist | |
| Average salary | $42,504 | $54,620 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $63,000 | Between $39,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fall River, MA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Los Alamos National Laboratory | Battelle |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a sample prep technician and a microbiologist in terms of educational background:
| Sample Prep Technician | Microbiologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between sample prep technicians' and microbiologists' demographics:
| Sample Prep Technician | Microbiologist | |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4% | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 10.5% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 13.6% White, 69.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |