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The differences between asbestos microscopists and student 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 student research assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an asbestos microscopist has an average salary of $57,182, which is higher than the $27,475 average annual salary of a student research assistant.
The top three skills for an asbestos microscopist include PLM, TEM and electron microscope. The most important skills for a student research assistant are lab equipment, student research, and data collection.
| Asbestos Microscopist | Student Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $57,182 | $27,475 |
| Hourly rate | $27.49 | $13.21 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 249 | 59,758 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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 student research assistant is responsible for supporting the school's research department on conducting various research tasks using the techniques and resources provided by the supervising faculty. Student research assistants collect and verify research data, interpret and document findings using research methodologies, organize and prepare research materials, write research reports, and provide recommendations to improve research strategies and techniques. A student research assistant must have excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as the ability to multitask and be a fast-learner to interpret data within a specific time.
Asbestos microscopists and student research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Asbestos Microscopist | Student Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $57,182 | $27,475 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $98,000 | Between $19,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Fairbanks, AK |
| Highest paying state | - | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | - | |
| Best paying industry | - | Education |
There are a few differences between an asbestos microscopist and a student research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Asbestos Microscopist | Student Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between asbestos microscopists' and student research assistants' demographics:
| Asbestos Microscopist | Student Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 39 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.7% Female, 33.3% | Male, 44.1% Female, 55.9% |
| 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, 16.7% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 8% |