Wildlife technician vs microbiological laboratory technician

The differences between wildlife technicians and microbiological laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a wildlife technician and a microbiological laboratory technician. Additionally, a microbiological laboratory technician has an average salary of $38,713, which is higher than the $33,462 average annual salary of a wildlife technician.

The top three skills for a wildlife technician include GPS, hand tools and harvest. The most important skills for a microbiological laboratory technician are microbiology lab, laboratory procedures, and aseptic technique.

Wildlife technician vs microbiological laboratory technician overview

	Wildlife Technician	Microbiological Laboratory Technician
Yearly salary	$33,462	$38,713
Hourly rate	$16.09	$18.61
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	9,809	44,567
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 71%	Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

What does a wildlife technician do?

A wildlife technician is responsible for supporting wildlife biologists and management personnel on conducting research projects for habitat preservation and environmental welfare. Wildlife technicians create data reports, assist in laboratory examinations, collect biological samples, and maintaining the safety and security of the premises by observing surveillance equipment and adhering to safety policies and protocols. They also operate and inspect the efficiency of tools and equipment, provide routine maintenance, and request immediate repairs as necessary. A wildlife technician helps in planning wildlife programs and managing information dissemination to the public.

What does a microbiological laboratory technician do?

A microbiological laboratory technician specializes in handling and testing samples, ensuring accuracy and safety. Often working under the supervision of a more experienced scientist, a microbiological laboratory technician has the responsibility to operate various devices and machines, record all progress and data, review results, and produce reports and documentation. There are also instances when a technician must submit results within deadlines or follow a senior scientist's directives. Furthermore, it is essential to adhere to the safety policies and rules of the laboratory at all times.

Wildlife technician vs microbiological laboratory technician salary

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

	Wildlife Technician	Microbiological Laboratory Technician
Average salary	$33,462	$38,713
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $44,000	Between $29,000 And $50,000
Highest paying City	Springfield, MA	Burlington, MA
Highest paying state	New Hampshire	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Boulder County	AstraZeneca
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Manufacturing

Differences between wildlife technician and microbiological laboratory technician education

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

	Wildlife Technician	Microbiological Laboratory Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 71%	Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common major	Biology	Biology
Most common college	Duke University	Cornell University

Wildlife technician vs microbiological laboratory technician demographics

Here are the differences between wildlife technicians' and microbiological laboratory technicians' demographics:

	Wildlife Technician	Microbiological Laboratory Technician
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 66.5% Female, 33.5%	Male, 36.0% Female, 64.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 10.1% White, 56.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%	Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 15.2% White, 51.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between wildlife technician and microbiological laboratory technician duties and responsibilities

Wildlife technician example responsibilities.

Lead fish exclusion and relocation efforts, using backpack electro fishing gear.
Research new techniques to properly manage invasive species such a common carp.
Perform automated DNA and RNA extraction of clinical specimens.
Collect and process biological samples for epidemiology PCR and RT-PCR studies.
Work with other volunteers and sometimes independently to search for, identify and record GPS coordinates of invasive plant species.
Extract nematode specimens from soil samples, remount old nematode slides, and enter vital information into USDA nematode collection database.

Microbiological laboratory technician example responsibilities.

Job duties begin in a general microbiology/ infectious disease laboratory focuse on cultivating and managing infectious strains of microbes.
Interpret titration curves, nmr graphs, IR spectroscopy and GC graphs.
Prepare bacterial, fungus and yeast cell cultures used for GLP testing under FDA/EPA guidelines.
contract )--cut fabric for testing--run Laund-Orometer--ICP, AA, titration
Conduct schedule preventive maintenance and calibration of equipment (i.e., GC/MS, HPLC, GPC, pH meter).
Test in-house USP water samples for microbiological contamination.

Wildlife technician vs microbiological laboratory technician skills

Common wildlife technician skills

GPS, 9%
Hand Tools, 8%
Harvest, 7%
Data Entry, 6%
Wildlife Habitat, 6%
GRASS, 5%

Common microbiological laboratory technician skills

Microbiology Lab, 9%
Laboratory Procedures, 7%
Aseptic Technique, 6%
Lab Equipment, 6%
Food Safety, 6%
Test Results, 5%

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Wildlife Technician vs Microbiological Laboratory Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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