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Assistant research engineer vs research assistant

The differences between assistant research engineers and 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 assistant research engineer, becoming a research assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an assistant research engineer has an average salary of $79,081, which is higher than the $42,896 average annual salary of a research assistant.

The top three skills for an assistant research engineer include patients, laser and PI. The most important skills for a research assistant are patients, lab equipment, and data collection.

Assistant research engineer vs research assistant overview

Assistant Research EngineerResearch Assistant
Yearly salary$79,081$42,896
Hourly rate$38.02$20.62
Growth rate2%19%
Number of jobs95,94551,080
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age4138
Years of experience62

Assistant research engineer vs research assistant salary

Assistant research engineers and research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Assistant Research EngineerResearch Assistant
Average salary$79,081$42,896
Salary rangeBetween $58,000 And $106,000Between $28,000 And $64,000
Highest paying CityRichmond, CANew Brunswick, NJ
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew Jersey
Best paying companyBrookhaven National LaboratoryJPMorgan Chase & Co.
Best paying industryEducationHealth Care

Differences between assistant research engineer and research assistant education

There are a few differences between an assistant research engineer and a research assistant in terms of educational background:

Assistant Research EngineerResearch Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common majorMechanical EngineeringPsychology
Most common collegeColumbia University in the City of New YorkHarvard University

Assistant research engineer vs research assistant demographics

Here are the differences between assistant research engineers' and research assistants' demographics:

Assistant Research EngineerResearch Assistant
Average age4138
Gender ratioMale, 45.7% Female, 54.3%Male, 46.3% Female, 53.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.0% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 16.9% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage5%8%

Differences between assistant research engineer and research assistant duties and responsibilities

Assistant research engineer example responsibilities.

  • Organize and manage multi-disciplinary teams of scientists, business and other professionals to successfully commercialize NASA and other technology.
  • Experience with working with instruments like SEM.
  • Modify LabVIEW control system to accommodate system changes during the system redesign.
  • Design and fabricate testing fixtures and molds using SolidWorks and machining equipment.
  • Used LabVIEW to measure pressure transducers -debug and solve driving motor system of research apparatus
  • Perform FEA static and seismic (response spectrum and time history) analysis of underground structures.
  • Show more

Research assistant example responsibilities.

  • Update twitter profile and manage social media campaign.
  • Manage social media publications to spread awareness and notifications on Facebook.
  • Evaluate patients' study eligibility via medical history, obtain informed consent, enroll patients, and achieve enrollment quotas.
  • Learned many laboratory techniques, assays, and protocols; western blot, real-time PCR, tick collection, DNA extraction.
  • Analyze the effects of estrogen on various tissues using molecular biology techniques such as RT-PCR, RNA and DNA extractions.
  • Gain familiarity with research terminology, development procedures, data collection and management, and IRB considerations.
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Assistant research engineer vs research assistant skills

Common assistant research engineer skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • Laser, 14%
  • PI, 10%
  • Experimental Procedures, 10%
  • Research Findings, 6%
  • Vital Signs, 5%
Common research assistant skills
  • Patients, 9%
  • Lab Equipment, 9%
  • Data Collection, 8%
  • Laboratory Equipment, 5%
  • Research Projects, 5%
  • Data Analysis, 5%

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