How To Become An Assistant Scientist: What It Is and Career Path

What is an assistant scientist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Betsy Smith

Assistant scientists are responsible for various research projects and generally provide assistance to the head scientist. Most of their time and energy is spent on gathering specimens or data, conducting experiments, and creating detailed reports of their findings for the perusal of the head scientist.

Additional duties of an assistant scientist typically include presenting their research to other professionals, calibrating laboratory equipment, preparing samples, and maintaining a clean workstation. They usually work independently but may need to be supervised by a superior in the first few days or weeks of training.

The ideal degree for this role will depend on what kind of research is being conducted. For instance, the best degree for a project in the chemistry field is a bachelor's degree in chemistry or chemical engineering. Moreover, an assistant scientist must have experience working in a laboratory as well as a keen attention to detail.

In terms of salary, an assistant scientist can earn between $46,000 to $88,000 per year, depending on their employer, expertise, and level of experience.

What general advice would you give to an assistant scientist?

Dr. Betsy Smith

Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Elmira College

I would advise students just graduating to be flexible and open-minded in their job search. Chemistry is a challenging major, and students who succeed in it have learned how to learn, so they shouldn't assume that pure chemistry is the only thing they can do. One growing field is biomedical research, and chemistry majors are often qualified for jobs in that area. If you have other strengths, like writing, there are often jobs that can combine them as a technical writer or work for a science journal. There are jobs out there that might be perfect for you that you haven't heard of until you see an ad for it, so be open to different possibilities.

ScoreAssistant ScientistUS Average

Salary

6.0

Avg. Salary $77,400

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.3

Growth rate 17%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.15%

Asian 26.45%

Black or African American 6.29%

Hispanic or Latino 9.51%

Unknown 4.08%

White 53.52%

Gender

female 50.37%

male 49.63%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

6.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.7

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an assistant scientist

Explore assistant scientist education requirements

Most common assistant scientist degrees

Bachelor's

76.8 %

Master's

11.2 %

Doctorate

7.1 %

Start to develop specific assistant scientist skills

Skills	Percentages
Laboratory Equipment	8.98%
Data Analysis	6.24%
Laboratory Procedures	5.61%
Sample Preparation	4.71%
Cell Culture	4.18%

Complete relevant assistant scientist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New assistant scientists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an assistant scientist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real assistant scientist resumes.

Research assistant scientist duties and responsibilities

Manage laboratory inspections and maintenance programs in compliance with GLP regulations.
Develop and manage third party claim investigations and contractor remedial oversight for various insurance companies.
Prepare biological samples, reagents, stock and working standards and QC samples.
Develop ELISA and SEAP assays for quantification of HIV proteins.

Prepare your assistant scientist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your assistant scientist resume.

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