Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between technical laboratory specialists and information technology specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a technical laboratory specialist and an information technology specialist. Additionally, an information technology specialist has an average salary of $81,241, 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 information technology specialist are customer service, troubleshoot, and computer system.
| Technical Laboratory Specialist | Information Technology Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $59,377 | $81,241 |
| Hourly rate | $28.55 | $39.06 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 147,595 | 122,519 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
An Information Technology Specialist, also known as a Computer Professional or IT Specialist, is responsible for the computer support of an establishment or individual. Most of the duties require extensive and proactive knowledge of Information Technology, such as in the aspects of network and systems administration, security and information, hardware and software management, troubleshooting, and more. The tasks of an IT Specialist are diverse. It is not limited to installation or activation, as it also involves monitoring, management, and analyzation.
Technical laboratory specialists and information technology specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Laboratory Specialist | Information Technology Specialist | |
| Average salary | $59,377 | $81,241 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $88,000 | Between $58,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | Burlingame, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | Sutter Health | |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a technical laboratory specialist and an information technology specialist in terms of educational background:
| Technical Laboratory Specialist | Information Technology Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Biology | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between technical laboratory specialists' and information technology specialists' demographics:
| Technical Laboratory Specialist | Information Technology Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.0% Female, 45.0% | Male, 77.8% Female, 22.2% |
| 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, 12.2% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 11.9% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |