Surveillance technician vs laboratory analyst

The differences between surveillance technicians and laboratory analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a surveillance technician and a laboratory analyst. Additionally, a laboratory analyst has an average salary of $44,024, which is higher than the $41,279 average annual salary of a surveillance technician.

The top three skills for a surveillance technician include ladders, CCTV and construction sites. The most important skills for a laboratory analyst are test methods, lab equipment, and lims.

Surveillance technician vs laboratory analyst overview

	Surveillance Technician	Laboratory Analyst
Yearly salary	$41,279	$44,024
Hourly rate	$19.85	$21.17
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	13,099	44,074
Job satisfaction	1	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	2	2

What does a surveillance technician do?

A man without specific skills can't be the perfect man. Surveillance Technician, thus, needs to be tactful. He/She has to possess a wide range of exposure such as technical skills like electrical and video installation knowledge, maintenance skills such as drilling, wiring, cabling, and network administration skills.

What does a laboratory analyst do?

A Laboratory Analyst helps conduct experiments, run laboratory tests, and analyze results. They compile and record data for the documentation needed for testing and report preparation.

Surveillance technician vs laboratory analyst salary

Surveillance technicians and laboratory analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Surveillance Technician	Laboratory Analyst
Average salary	$41,279	$44,024
Salary range	Between $30,000 And $55,000	Between $31,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City	-	New York, NY
Highest paying state	-	New York
Best paying company	-	AbbVie
Best paying industry	-	Pharmaceutical

Differences between surveillance technician and laboratory analyst education

There are a few differences between a surveillance technician and a laboratory analyst in terms of educational background:

	Surveillance Technician	Laboratory Analyst
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common major	Business	Biology
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Surveillance technician vs laboratory analyst demographics

Here are the differences between surveillance technicians' and laboratory analysts' demographics:

	Surveillance Technician	Laboratory Analyst
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3%	Male, 48.3% Female, 51.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 10.4% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%	Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between surveillance technician and laboratory analyst duties and responsibilities

Surveillance technician example responsibilities.

Manage implementation and networking of multi-million dollar tactical datalink architecture consisting of windows base and proprietary systems.
Manage numerous outdoor storage locations for government ammunition stockpiles while simultaneously providing rapid logistical support to facilitate employee training.
Switch over to digital recording which involve IP addressing cameras, video encoders, hard drive arrays, and Cisco switches.
Maintain hardware and software systems and manual records require to successfully perform stock control accounting procedures for ammunition and explosives.
Maintain physical control over all entrances to the SCIF.
Use of DoD equipment and technologies for surveillance monitoring.

Laboratory analyst example responsibilities.

Use sophisticate laboratory instrumentation (HPLC, FTIR, UV, GC) and computer systems to collect and record data.
Analyze organic compounds using gravimetric, titration, distillation and spectrophotometry methods.
Prepare for and represent the laboratory during FDA, customer, and ISO audits.
Complete preparation of organic samples for GC, HPLC, IR and GCMS analysis.
Prepare solid and aqueous samples for analysis on diagnostic instruments including GC, GCMS and IC.
Utilize internal LIMS computer database for data entry and communication.

Surveillance technician vs laboratory analyst skills

Common surveillance technician skills

Ladders, 10%
CCTV, 8%
Construction Sites, 7%
Surveillance Equipment, 7%
CST, 6%
Security Integrity, 5%

Common laboratory analyst skills

Test Methods, 8%
Lab Equipment, 7%
Lims, 5%
Laboratory Procedures, 5%
Sample Preparation, 5%
Analytical Methods, 4%

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Surveillance Technician
Surveillance Technician vs Laboratory Analyst

Updated January 8, 2025

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