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The differences between technical laboratory specialists and laboratory 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 a laboratory specialist. Additionally, a technical laboratory specialist has an average salary of $59,377, which is higher than the $50,357 average annual salary of a laboratory specialist.
The top three skills for a technical laboratory specialist include clinical laboratory, patients and chemistry. The most important skills for a laboratory specialist are chemistry, patients, and test results.
| Technical Laboratory Specialist | Laboratory Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $59,377 | $50,357 |
| Hourly rate | $28.55 | $24.21 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 147,595 | 68,634 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| 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.
A laboratory specialist develops the areas assigned to them and promotes maximum resource allocation and utilization to achieve their goals. Laboratory specialists handle storage and backup devices, support telecommunication-associated equipment, and relay customer requests and issues. It is their job to process specimens in toxicology, coagulation, microbiology, hematology, chemistry, and urinalysis. Skills and knowledge in a photo lab, cell culture, customer service, and test cases are necessary for this position.
Technical laboratory specialists and laboratory specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Laboratory Specialist | Laboratory Specialist | |
| Average salary | $59,377 | $50,357 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $88,000 | Between $36,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Burlingame, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Sutter Health | Nokia |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a technical laboratory specialist and a laboratory specialist in terms of educational background:
| Technical Laboratory Specialist | Laboratory Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | SUNY Stony Brook |
Here are the differences between technical laboratory specialists' and laboratory specialists' demographics:
| Technical Laboratory Specialist | Laboratory Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.0% Female, 45.0% | Male, 47.3% Female, 52.7% |
| 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, 10.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |