Test laboratory technician vs laboratory technician

The differences between test laboratory technicians and 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 a laboratory technician. Additionally, a test laboratory technician has an average salary of $50,765, which is higher than the $40,038 average annual salary of a 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 technician are patients, lab equipment, and customer service.

Test laboratory technician vs laboratory technician overview

	Test Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Technician
Yearly salary	$50,765	$40,038
Hourly rate	$24.41	$19.25
Growth rate	-	4%
Number of jobs	64,233	84,357
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
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 technician do?

Laboratory technicians are medical professionals who work in the laboratory. They are responsible for the equipment in the laboratory, making sure tools are properly sanitized and sterilized after every use. They also ensure that laboratory equipment works well. Laboratory technicians may also be responsible for collecting and testing samples from patients. They prepare solutions and other chemicals that may be needed for testing. They also provide an analysis of the samples that they tested. Laboratory technicians ensure that all items in the laboratory are properly labeled and organized.

Test laboratory technician vs laboratory technician salary

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

	Test Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Technician
Average salary	$50,765	$40,038
Salary range	Between $34,000 And $73,000	Between $27,000 And $58,000
Highest paying City	Waltham, MA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Maine	Alaska
Best paying company	Westinghouse Appliances Australia	Tenaska
Best paying industry	Technology	Health Care

Differences between test laboratory technician and laboratory technician education

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

	Test Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common major	Electrical Engineering	Biology
Most common college	Purdue University	New York University

Test laboratory technician vs laboratory technician demographics

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

	Test Laboratory Technician	Laboratory Technician
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9%	Male, 53.3% Female, 46.7%
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, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between test laboratory technician and laboratory technician 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 technician example responsibilities.

Lead aerobic, anaerobic and UV light testing, chemical residue testing and centrifuge to separate chemicals from water.
Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
Analyze and paid attention to detail as well as demonstrated excellent organization skills, manual dexterity and good eyesight.
Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate with EKG equipment and notify physician is something appears to be wrong.
Monitor several color formulations being manufacture in the production department to ensure manufacturing procedures are follow per ISO and GMP.
Perform age appropriate phlebotomy while working with critically or terminally ill patients, with careful respect for individual and/or cultural concerns.

Test laboratory technician vs laboratory technician 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 technician skills

Patients, 17%
Lab Equipment, 8%
Customer Service, 6%
Basic Math, 4%
Test Results, 4%
Math, 4%

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Test Laboratory Technician
Test Laboratory Technician vs Laboratory Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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