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The differences between senior laboratory technicians and chemical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a senior laboratory technician, becoming a chemical technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior laboratory technician has an average salary of $48,530, which is higher than the $42,584 average annual salary of a chemical technician.
The top three skills for a senior laboratory technician include lab equipment, patients and research projects. The most important skills for a chemical technician are lab equipment, safety procedures, and hazardous materials.
| Senior Laboratory Technician | Chemical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $48,530 | $42,584 |
| Hourly rate | $23.33 | $20.47 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 63,876 | 40,191 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
A Senior Laboratory Technician is responsible for supervising and coordinating scientific investigations and experiments. They supervise staff, provide technical support, and construct, maintain, and operate standard laboratory equipment.
A chemical technician is responsible for supporting chemists and laboratory technicians in performing laboratory investigations and examining chemical components and structures. Chemical technicians ensure the stability of laboratory tools and equipment, performing proper sterilization and segregation of disposable materials, and maintaining the adequacy of inventory. They also record the research progress, including scientific methods, and write observation reports for reference. A chemical technician manages the cleanliness and orderliness of the facility to avoid potential hazards and complications during chemical operations.
Senior laboratory technicians and chemical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Laboratory Technician | Chemical Technician | |
| Average salary | $48,530 | $42,584 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $67,000 | Between $30,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | California | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Genentech | Calpine |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a senior laboratory technician and a chemical technician in terms of educational background:
| Senior Laboratory Technician | Chemical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | New York University | Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon |
Here are the differences between senior laboratory technicians' and chemical technicians' demographics:
| Senior Laboratory Technician | Chemical Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.6% Female, 41.4% | Male, 80.5% Female, 19.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 6.9% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |