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Senior laboratory assistant vs laboratory technician

The differences between senior laboratory assistants and laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a senior laboratory assistant and a laboratory technician. Additionally, a senior laboratory assistant has an average salary of $40,806, which is higher than the $40,038 average annual salary of a laboratory technician.

The top three skills for a senior laboratory assistant include patients, specimen processing and lab equipment. The most important skills for a laboratory technician are patients, lab equipment, and customer service.

Senior laboratory assistant vs laboratory technician overview

Senior Laboratory AssistantLaboratory Technician
Yearly salary$40,806$40,038
Hourly rate$19.62$19.25
Growth rate16%4%
Number of jobs39,60684,357
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4444
Years of experience1212

Senior laboratory assistant vs laboratory technician salary

Senior laboratory assistants and laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Laboratory AssistantLaboratory Technician
Average salary$40,806$40,038
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $66,000Between $27,000 And $58,000
Highest paying City-New York, NY
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Tenaska
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between senior laboratory assistant and laboratory technician education

There are a few differences between a senior laboratory assistant and a laboratory technician in terms of educational background:

Senior Laboratory AssistantLaboratory Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeNew York UniversityNew York University

Senior laboratory assistant vs laboratory technician demographics

Here are the differences between senior laboratory assistants' and laboratory technicians' demographics:

Senior Laboratory AssistantLaboratory Technician
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 40.1% Female, 59.9%Male, 53.3% Female, 46.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 13.3% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between senior laboratory assistant and laboratory technician duties and responsibilities

Senior laboratory assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage, train and teach small groups of organic chemistry students with informal, fun learning environment.
  • Manage daily laboratory operations including personnel, client consulting, analyses and adherence to GLP protocols.
  • Perform daily maintenance and QC on hematology and chemistry analyzers.
  • Help in entering results in the LIS.
  • Conduct PCR to amplify genes for sequencing.
  • Design layout for new type of GMP laboratory.
  • Show more

Laboratory technician example responsibilities.

  • Lead aerobic, anaerobic and UV light testing, chemical residue testing and centrifuge to separate chemicals from water.
  • Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
  • Analyze and paid attention to detail as well as demonstrated excellent organization skills, manual dexterity and good eyesight.
  • Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate with EKG equipment and notify physician is something appears to be wrong.
  • Monitor several color formulations being manufacture in the production department to ensure manufacturing procedures are follow per ISO and GMP.
  • Perform age appropriate phlebotomy while working with critically or terminally ill patients, with careful respect for individual and/or cultural concerns.
  • Show more

Senior laboratory assistant vs laboratory technician skills

Common senior laboratory assistant skills
  • Patients, 30%
  • Specimen Processing, 10%
  • Lab Equipment, 9%
  • Microbiology, 9%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Laboratory Procedures, 5%
Common laboratory technician skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Lab Equipment, 8%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Basic Math, 4%
  • Test Results, 4%
  • Math, 4%

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