Test laboratory technician vs laboratory supervisor

The differences between test laboratory technicians and laboratory supervisors 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 a laboratory supervisor. Additionally, a laboratory supervisor has an average salary of $67,361, which is higher than the $50,765 average annual salary of a test laboratory technician.

The top three skills for a test laboratory technician include test equipment, troubleshoot and test results. The most important skills for a laboratory supervisor are clinical laboratory, patients, and chemistry.

Test laboratory technician vs laboratory supervisor overview

	Test Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Supervisor
Yearly salary	$50,765	$67,361
Hourly rate	$24.41	$32.39
Growth rate	-	3%
Number of jobs	64,233	49,957
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	12	12

What does a test laboratory technician do?

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.

What does a laboratory supervisor do?

The primary job of laboratory supervisors is to oversee the daily operations of laboratories. They are responsible for facilitating the collection, analysis, and interpretation of laboratory results. Other responsibilities include supervising personnel, managing the operating budget of the laboratory, and hiring employees. Laboratory supervisors are responsible for overseeing quality assurance and enforcing practices to ensure quality control within the laboratory. Aside from these tasks, they also manage the acquisition of laboratory equipment and supplies and resolve any technical or administrative issues within the laboratory.

Test laboratory technician vs laboratory supervisor salary

Test laboratory technicians and laboratory supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Test Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Supervisor
Average salary	$50,765	$67,361
Salary range	Between $34,000 And $73,000	Between $47,000 And $96,000
Highest paying City	Waltham, MA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Maine	California
Best paying company	Westinghouse Appliances Australia	Chevron
Best paying industry	Technology	Health Care

Differences between test laboratory technician and laboratory supervisor education

There are a few differences between a test laboratory technician and a laboratory supervisor in terms of educational background:

	Test Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Supervisor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common major	Electrical Engineering	Biology
Most common college	Purdue University	Northwestern University

Test laboratory technician vs laboratory supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between test laboratory technicians' and laboratory supervisors' demographics:

	Test Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Supervisor
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9%	Male, 52.7% Female, 47.3%
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, 10.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 12.0% White, 53.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between test laboratory technician and laboratory supervisor duties and responsibilities

Test laboratory technician example responsibilities.

Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
Used LabVIEW to collect data from measurement equipment (transducers, etc . )
Assist in the design of all RF and environmental fixtures need to test these components.
Assist product engineering to make changes to products in order to meet UL and CSA standards.
Test soil, asphalt, and concrete samples for moisture, density, durability, and other characteristics.
Test done on the asphalt must pass due to the specification of GDOT specs for the contractor to use.

Laboratory supervisor example responsibilities.

Manage personnel within the team, and provide guidance relating to laboratory EMR to performance improvement projects
Handle administrative and IRB tasks, manage fiscal matters, maintain record system of participant data.
Manage all static data, generate reports, run queries and support laboratories with technical knowledge and advice.
Manage pneumatic resistance rehabilitation lab.
Manage and maintain various automate laboratory equipment though GMP safe practices.
Assist with implementation of new procedures as laboratory works to achieving ISO certification.

Test laboratory technician vs laboratory supervisor skills

Common test laboratory technician skills

Test Equipment, 8%
Troubleshoot, 7%
Test Results, 6%
Test Lab, 6%
Test Methods, 5%
Data Collection, 5%

Common laboratory supervisor skills

Clinical Laboratory, 11%
Patients, 10%
Chemistry, 6%
Patient Care, 5%
Lab Equipment, 5%
Test Results, 5%

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Test Laboratory Technician
Test Laboratory Technician vs Laboratory Supervisor

Updated January 8, 2025

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