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Associate research specialist vs senior research associate

The differences between associate research specialists and senior research associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an associate research specialist, becoming a senior research associate takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior research associate has an average salary of $72,618, which is higher than the $48,302 average annual salary of an associate research specialist.

The top three skills for an associate research specialist include research projects, informed consent and data collection. The most important skills for a senior research associate are patients, data analysis, and CRISPR.

Associate research specialist vs senior research associate overview

Associate Research SpecialistSenior Research Associate
Yearly salary$48,302$72,618
Hourly rate$23.22$34.91
Growth rate19%6%
Number of jobs56,83458,903
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age3744
Years of experience62

Associate research specialist vs senior research associate salary

Associate research specialists and senior research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Associate Research SpecialistSenior Research Associate
Average salary$48,302$72,618
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $69,000Between $51,000 And $102,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonWashington
Best paying companySAS InstituteThe Citadel
Best paying industryFinanceGovernment

Differences between associate research specialist and senior research associate education

There are a few differences between an associate research specialist and a senior research associate in terms of educational background:

Associate Research SpecialistSenior Research Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of Maryland - College ParkStanford University

Associate research specialist vs senior research associate demographics

Here are the differences between associate research specialists' and senior research associates' demographics:

Associate Research SpecialistSenior Research Associate
Average age3744
Gender ratioMale, 37.4% Female, 62.6%Male, 53.6% Female, 46.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 13.4% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage10%9%

Differences between associate research specialist and senior research associate duties and responsibilities

Associate research specialist example responsibilities.

  • Attain and practice medical insurance information rapidly and correctly; including main carriers and Medicaid.
  • Develop an interactive mapping system which utilizes a SAS programming platform and geospatial technology.
  • Participate in a summer research intensive that provide hands-on training in interdisciplinary biomedical laboratory techniques with an emphasis in advance instrumentation.
  • Develop and implement clinical and community-base research and evaluation projects in HIV prevention, smoking interventions, and domestic violence

Senior research associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage the development of innovative visualization and concept mapping of contest environment analysis challenges and analyst skill sets.
  • Develop, implement and optimize HPLC and ELISA assays in support of cell line and process development.
  • Provide purification service with rp-LCMS, np- HPLC, and MPLC, as well QC data including UPLC-MS and NMR.
  • Engineer and design a unique CRISPR cloning system for the group.
  • Apply the CRISPR technology to conduct gene editing in human IPSCs.
  • Develop an identity ELISA assay to detect the presence of competing and irrelevant drug products in manufacturing process.
  • Show more

Associate research specialist vs senior research associate skills

Common associate research specialist skills
  • Research Projects, 13%
  • Informed Consent, 9%
  • Data Collection, 9%
  • Laboratory Analysis, 7%
  • IRB, 7%
  • Chemistry, 5%
Common senior research associate skills
  • Patients, 9%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • CRISPR, 6%
  • Molecular Biology, 5%
  • Cell Culture, 5%
  • Flow Cytometry, 4%

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