Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between test laboratory technicians and assistant laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a test laboratory technician and an assistant laboratory technician. Additionally, a test laboratory technician has an average salary of $50,765, which is higher than the $35,556 average annual salary of an assistant laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a test laboratory technician include test equipment, troubleshoot and test results. The most important skills for an assistant laboratory technician are patients, ladders, and computer lab.
| Test Laboratory Technician | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $50,765 | $35,556 |
| Hourly rate | $24.41 | $17.09 |
| Growth rate | - | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 64,233 | 116,488 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A test laboratory technician is responsible for conducting laboratory tests to diagnose patients' conditions and identify their treatment plans. Test laboratory technicians safely operate laboratory tools and equipment, adhering to the strict safety standards and regulations to avoid contamination and prevent potential hazards within the laboratory. They also maintain the cleanliness of the area, as well as sanitizing the instruments and properly segregating disposable materials. A test laboratory technician analyzes results and writes medical reports under the supervision of an attending physician or medical technologist.
The primary responsibility of a lab assistant is to help scientists and technologists. Lab assistants are assigned to prepare and monitor tests and experiments in research or medical laboratory. They analyze data and establish reports based on test results. Also, they set up the tools and equipment used in the lab. It is also part of their job to clean the lab rooms--knowledge in lab management, communication skills, attention to detail, and medical-related management.
Test laboratory technicians and assistant laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Test Laboratory Technician | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $50,765 | $35,556 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $73,000 | Between $21,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Waltham, MA | Manchester, NH |
| Highest paying state | Maine | California |
| Best paying company | Westinghouse Appliances Australia | Patterson-UTI Energy |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a test laboratory technician and an assistant laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Test Laboratory Technician | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Biology |
| Most common college | Purdue University | University of Maryland - College Park |
Here are the differences between test laboratory technicians' and assistant laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Test Laboratory Technician | Assistant Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9% | Male, 71.6% Female, 28.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 11.6% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |