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Analytical laboratory technician vs assistant research scientist

The differences between analytical laboratory technicians and assistant research scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an analytical laboratory technician and an assistant research scientist. Additionally, an assistant research scientist has an average salary of $62,780, which is higher than the $41,538 average annual salary of an analytical laboratory technician.

The top three skills for an analytical laboratory technician include lab equipment, analytical lab and HPLC. The most important skills for an assistant research scientist are research projects, data collection, and data analysis.

Analytical laboratory technician vs assistant research scientist overview

Analytical Laboratory TechnicianAssistant Research Scientist
Yearly salary$41,538$62,780
Hourly rate$19.97$30.18
Growth rate4%17%
Number of jobs50,75088,786
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4438
Years of experience22

What does an analytical laboratory technician do?

An analytical laboratory technician is responsible for operating various equipment to perform laboratory research and investigations under a professional scientist's supervision. Analytical laboratory technicians ensure the laboratory and machinery's safety and cleanliness to avoid potential hazards and keep accurate laboratory results. They also manage the adequacy of laboratory inventories, create purchase requests, and document findings for reference. An analytical laboratory technician must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in performing examinations accordingly while following strict safety protocols and regulatory policies.

What does an assistant research scientist do?

An Assistant Research Scientist assists in planning, conducting, and analyzing various research projects. They also order and manage lab inventory, materials, and equipment.

Analytical laboratory technician vs assistant research scientist salary

Analytical laboratory technicians and assistant research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Analytical Laboratory TechnicianAssistant Research Scientist
Average salary$41,538$62,780
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $53,000Between $43,000 And $89,000
Highest paying CityElizabethtown, KYSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMarylandMassachusetts
Best paying companyZoetisUniversity of California
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalEducation

Differences between analytical laboratory technician and assistant research scientist education

There are a few differences between an analytical laboratory technician and an assistant research scientist in terms of educational background:

Analytical Laboratory TechnicianAssistant Research Scientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorChemistryBiology
Most common collegeStanford UniversityHarvard University

Analytical laboratory technician vs assistant research scientist demographics

Here are the differences between analytical laboratory technicians' and assistant research scientists' demographics:

Analytical Laboratory TechnicianAssistant Research Scientist
Average age4438
Gender ratioMale, 55.0% Female, 45.0%Male, 55.6% Female, 44.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 9.3% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 16.7% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage9%8%

Differences between analytical laboratory technician and assistant research scientist duties and responsibilities

Analytical laboratory technician example responsibilities.

  • Lead aerobic, anaerobic and UV light testing, chemical residue testing and centrifuge to separate chemicals from water.
  • Analyze raw materials and finish products using HPLC, UV, GC, and FTIR according to specifications.
  • Acquire extensive knowledge of GMP and FDA regulations as well as specifications.
  • Prepare and analyze calibration curves and daily QC standards on GC and HPLC using ChemStation software.
  • Maintain and operate laboratory equipment and commendably troubleshoot and resolve an assortment of laboratory testing analyzers and perform diverse chemical tests.
  • Maintain and operate laboratory equipment and commendably troubleshoot and resolve an assortment of laboratory testing analyzers and perform diverse chemical tests.

Assistant research scientist example responsibilities.

  • Lead a group of four employees in optimizing DNA purification technologies for production DNA sequencing.
  • Evaluate patients' study eligibility via medical history, obtain informed consent, enroll patients, and achieve enrollment quotas.
  • Experience in SAS programming in biomedical research.
  • Prepare salivary samples for Cortisol ELISA assays.
  • Gather and code quantitative and qualitative data using SPSS and Atlas.ti.
  • Standardize assays to elucidate the mechanism of action of lead molecules.
  • Show more

Analytical laboratory technician vs assistant research scientist skills

Common analytical laboratory technician skills
  • Lab Equipment, 7%
  • Analytical Lab, 6%
  • HPLC, 6%
  • Chromatography, 5%
  • Wet Chemistry, 4%
  • Analytical Methods, 4%
Common assistant research scientist skills
  • Research Projects, 8%
  • Data Collection, 7%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Lab Equipment, 4%
  • Cell Culture, 4%
  • Chemistry, 4%

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