Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between asbestos microscopists and laboratory research assistants 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 a laboratory research assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an asbestos microscopist has an average salary of $57,182, which is higher than the $36,537 average annual salary of a laboratory research assistant.
The top three skills for an asbestos microscopist include PLM, TEM and electron microscope. The most important skills for a laboratory research assistant are data collection, patients, and laboratory equipment.
| Asbestos Microscopist | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $57,182 | $36,537 |
| Hourly rate | $27.49 | $17.57 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 249 | 87,343 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| 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.
A laboratory research assistant is an individual who performs lab experiments and carries out projects designed by senior lab staff members. Laboratory research assistants design and conduct experiments using biohazards and other dangerous materials to gain information and test scientific processes. They must write detailed reports of their research and experiments and then deliver these reports in written and verbal forms. Laboratory research assistants may also work in different settings such as medical facilities and pharmaceutical companies.
Asbestos microscopists and laboratory research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Asbestos Microscopist | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $57,182 | $36,537 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $98,000 | Between $24,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | - | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | - | New York University |
| Best paying industry | - | Education |
There are a few differences between an asbestos microscopist and a laboratory research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Asbestos Microscopist | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between asbestos microscopists' and laboratory research assistants' demographics:
| Asbestos Microscopist | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 39 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.7% Female, 33.3% | Male, 46.2% Female, 53.8% |
| 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, 8.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 16.6% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 8% |