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The differences between analytical technicians and research and development technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an analytical technician, becoming a research and development technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a research and development technician has an average salary of $83,552, which is higher than the $69,177 average annual salary of an analytical technician.
The top three skills for an analytical technician include lab equipment, HPLC and SQL. The most important skills for a research and development technician are R, project management, and product management.
| Analytical Technician | Research And Development Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $69,177 | $83,552 |
| Hourly rate | $33.26 | $40.17 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 48,581 | 111,268 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Analytical technicians are professionals who are responsible for managing the daily operation of activities in a laboratory as well as maintain lab equipment to ensure a high standard of sanitation. These technicians must assist in laboratory work, such as developing analytical test methods and performing analysis of raw materials and in-process samples. They are required to maintain relevant files and data records but should inform the laboratory manager when they are faced with technical problems. Analytical technicians should also determine the physical and chemical properties of compounds by using quantitative and qualitative analyses.
A research and development technician specializes in performing mathematical and laboratory operations to support projects concerning products and development. Usually functioning as an assistant to a more experienced researcher, a research and development technician's responsibilities revolve around conducting analysis, building models and prototypes, producing reports, and performing various experiments. Furthermore, as a technician, it is crucial to coordinate with all team members, keeping an accurate record of all processes while adhering to the company's standards and regulations.
Analytical technicians and research and development technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Analytical Technician | Research And Development Technician | |
| Average salary | $69,177 | $83,552 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $114,000 | Between $55,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hartford, CT | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Meta | PayPal |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between an analytical technician and a research and development technician in terms of educational background:
| Analytical Technician | Research And Development Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between analytical technicians' and research and development technicians' demographics:
| Analytical Technician | Research And Development Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% | Male, 72.5% Female, 27.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 8.4% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 15.4% White, 50.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 6% |