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The differences between biology research assistants and laboratory research assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a biology research assistant and a laboratory research assistant. Additionally, a biology research assistant has an average salary of $50,800, which is higher than the $36,537 average annual salary of a laboratory research assistant.
The top three skills for a biology research assistant include laboratory equipment, laboratory techniques and cell culture. The most important skills for a laboratory research assistant are data collection, patients, and laboratory equipment.
| Biology Research Assistant | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $50,800 | $36,537 |
| Hourly rate | $24.42 | $17.57 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 50,666 | 87,343 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A biological research assistant's role is to perform support tasks for biologists and researchers. Their responsibilities typically revolve around organizing samples and research documents, updating databases, reviewing documents, summarizing results into reports and presentations, handling calls and correspondence, coordinating with external parties, and running errands. There are also instances when a biological research assistant prepare laboratories and instruments, cleaning and sanitizing them as needed. Furthermore, one can also perform experiments and analyses under the supervision or directives of a more experienced researcher.
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.
Biology research assistants and laboratory research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biology Research Assistant | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $50,800 | $36,537 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $78,000 | Between $24,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Brunswick, NJ | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Battelle | New York University |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Education |
There are a few differences between a biology research assistant and a laboratory research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Biology Research Assistant | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between biology research assistants' and laboratory research assistants' demographics:
| Biology Research Assistant | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% | Male, 46.2% Female, 53.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 16.9% White, 52.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | 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 | 8% | 8% |