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The differences between analytical technicians and research scientists 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 scientist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, 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 scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Analytical Technician | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $69,177 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $33.26 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 48,581 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| 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.
The job of research scientists is to design, undertake, and analyze information from experiments, trials, and laboratory-based investigations. They usually perform experiments in different areas, including medical research, pharmacology, and geoscience. They have varied duties and responsibilities that include planning and carrying out experiments, conducting fieldwork, and overseeing junior staff members like the technicians. They are typically working for a government laboratory, an environmental agency, and other organizations. Many of these scientists also work in teams and support staff.
Analytical technicians and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Analytical Technician | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $69,177 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $114,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hartford, CT | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between an analytical technician and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Analytical Technician | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between analytical technicians' and research scientists' demographics:
| Analytical Technician | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 29.6% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |