Heating and aspen bedding

stupid question tonight I have my reptitemp 500 probe along with my thermometer on top of glass under aspen. When a use a digital laser temp gun. I get a aspen temp around 79-84warm side. 73-74 cool side but have a heated hide on cool side 76-77, i just put in a humid hide also.
how come my thermometer says the temp on warm side is 98 but aspen around7* cooler right above it. Laser temped the snake body 82-83.
am I doing this right or am I doing something wrong?

The thermostat probe (reptitemp) should go on the UTH outside the tub. This way the snake can't move the probe and dislodge it, causing a heat spike.

The temp below the substrate will be hotter than the temp on top of the substrate. The snake will move the substrate if it needs to get warmer. You are doing just fine.

thank you
for all your info so far. I used to have red tail boas about 15 yrs ago so it is kind like starting from scratch.
My collection is already up to 5.
2 pastel M & F
1 normal M
1 Spider F
1 Pinstripe F
Already got mites.
Just got my PAM in the mail yesterday.
Took the snakes out along with water dish.
Sprayed both hides all 4 sides of tank. threw aspen away sprayed bottom glass and then the aspen along with small skull decoration in tank and then wiped the top edge of tank, I let it air out and dry for about 1hr and half.
Hopefully I did it correctly.
Also added humid hides with Spat moss can not spell it,to all tanks, used small tupperware bowls the holes look to small but I was told to make them a little smaller do to the snakes like the tight fit

sounds like you can go up a little in your temps. Not sure what temp gun you have. I use a raytek and check it regulary with my HVAC guys at work for its accuracy. Make sure its accurate to farenheit as some rate as celsius and i believe is a 3deg variance per degree.