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The differences between asbestos microscopists and assistant research scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an asbestos microscopist, becoming an assistant research scientist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an assistant research scientist has an average salary of $62,780, which is higher than the $57,182 average annual salary of an asbestos microscopist.
The top three skills for an asbestos microscopist include PLM, TEM and electron microscope. The most important skills for an assistant research scientist are research projects, data collection, and data analysis.
| Asbestos Microscopist | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $57,182 | $62,780 |
| Hourly rate | $27.49 | $30.18 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 249 | 88,786 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 39 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
Asbestos microscopists prepare and analyze materials for asbestos fibers. These professionals complete material analyses correctly and give updates about the results. They perform data entry precisely and efficiently and maintain and calibrate microscopes to improve their accuracy. Also, Asbestos microscopists attend scheduled training seminars and departmental meetings. Other duties performed by Asbestos microscopists include maintaining professional attendance for scheduled shifts and accurately identifying challenging samples. Moreover, Asbestos microscopists establish and maintain excellent relationships with other staff members.
An Assistant Research Scientist assists in planning, conducting, and analyzing various research projects. They also order and manage lab inventory, materials, and equipment.
Asbestos microscopists and assistant research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Asbestos Microscopist | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $57,182 | $62,780 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $98,000 | Between $43,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | - | University of California |
| Best paying industry | - | Education |
There are a few differences between an asbestos microscopist and an assistant research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Asbestos Microscopist | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between asbestos microscopists' and assistant research scientists' demographics:
| Asbestos Microscopist | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 39 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.7% Female, 33.3% | Male, 55.6% Female, 44.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% Asian, 5.0% White, 81.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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 Percentage | 16% | 8% |