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The differences between technical laboratory specialists and engineering specialist technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a technical laboratory specialist, becoming an engineering specialist technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an engineering specialist technician has an average salary of $89,631, which is higher than the $59,377 average annual salary of a technical laboratory specialist.
The top three skills for a technical laboratory specialist include clinical laboratory, patients and chemistry. The most important skills for an engineering specialist technician are troubleshoot, project management, and powerpoint.
| Technical Laboratory Specialist | Engineering Specialist Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $59,377 | $89,631 |
| Hourly rate | $28.55 | $43.09 |
| Growth rate | 10% | - |
| Number of jobs | 147,595 | 74,148 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 42 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A Technical Laboratory Specialist is a skilled worker who performs technical diagnostic or mechanical tests in scientific or medical laboratories. Technical laboratory specialists sample, test, measure, record, and analyze results as part of the scientific team. Their job involves technical support so that laboratories can operate effectively according to the right health and safety guidelines and procedures. For this job, one should develop administrative skills, knowledge in mathematics, use initiative, and focus on details.
Engineering specialist technicians draw up equipment and product blueprints and plans. They design and build planned equipment/product prototypes and analyze product/system performance. Besides creating daily laboratory activity reports and ordering and replacing equipment parts, engineering specialist technicians also help software design and write computer programs. These professionals address and resolve product glitches and problems and conduct regular product/equipment maintenance. Moreover, engineering specialist technicians inspect product designs for issues/problems and suggest the right ways to enhance products/equipment.
Technical laboratory specialists and engineering specialist technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Laboratory Specialist | Engineering Specialist Technician | |
| Average salary | $59,377 | $89,631 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $88,000 | Between $64,000 And $124,000 |
| Highest paying City | Burlingame, CA | Newark, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | Sutter Health | Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a technical laboratory specialist and an engineering specialist technician in terms of educational background:
| Technical Laboratory Specialist | Engineering Specialist Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Biology | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between technical laboratory specialists' and engineering specialist technicians' demographics:
| Technical Laboratory Specialist | Engineering Specialist Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.0% Female, 45.0% | Male, 83.7% Female, 16.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 11.6% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |