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The differences between water quality technicians and laboratory analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a water quality technician and a laboratory analyst. Additionally, a laboratory analyst has an average salary of $44,024, which is higher than the $39,725 average annual salary of a water quality technician.
The top three skills for a water quality technician include laboratory equipment, data collection and EPA. The most important skills for a laboratory analyst are test methods, lab equipment, and lims.
| Water Quality Technician | Laboratory Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $39,725 | $44,024 |
| Hourly rate | $19.10 | $21.17 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 70,992 | 44,074 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Water quality technicians are tasked with monitoring and testing water supplies and ensuring that a particular body of water is safe. They perform various duties, which include sampling, inspecting, and testing water. They work with surface and groundwater sources. They evaluate and report the condition and features of various water samples and sources. The main goal of this job is to ensure public safety, environmental sustainability, and data integrity.
A Laboratory Analyst helps conduct experiments, run laboratory tests, and analyze results. They compile and record data for the documentation needed for testing and report preparation.
Water quality technicians and laboratory analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Water Quality Technician | Laboratory Analyst | |
| Average salary | $39,725 | $44,024 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $61,000 | Between $31,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | - | New York |
| Best paying company | - | AbbVie |
| Best paying industry | - | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a water quality technician and a laboratory analyst in terms of educational background:
| Water Quality Technician | Laboratory Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between water quality technicians' and laboratory analysts' demographics:
| Water Quality Technician | Laboratory Analyst | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.2% Female, 32.8% | Male, 48.3% Female, 51.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 10.2% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |