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The differences between biology research assistants and research laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a biology research assistant, becoming a research laboratory technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a biology research assistant has an average salary of $50,800, which is higher than the $38,308 average annual salary of a research laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a biology research assistant include laboratory equipment, laboratory techniques and cell culture. The most important skills for a research laboratory technician are patients, chemistry, and laboratory equipment.
| Biology Research Assistant | Research Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $50,800 | $38,308 |
| Hourly rate | $24.42 | $18.42 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 50,666 | 86,476 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
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.
Research laboratory technicians play a vital role in scientific laboratories. They perform varied duties and responsibilities, which include setting up, operating, and maintaining the laboratory equipment, assisting in laboratory-based research activities such as sampling, testing, and analyzing results, and providing technical support to the laboratory team members. In addition, they are expected to support the development and advancement of science and modern medicine. Other typical duties of research laboratory technicians include preparing samples and specimens, keeping abreast with current technical developments, and ensuring strict compliance with safety procedures.
Biology research assistants and research laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biology Research Assistant | Research Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $50,800 | $38,308 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $78,000 | Between $30,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Brunswick, NJ | Chicago, IL |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Illinois |
| Best paying company | Battelle | Accenture |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a biology research assistant and a research laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Biology Research Assistant | Research Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between biology research assistants' and research laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Biology Research Assistant | Research Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% | Male, 49.0% Female, 51.0% |
| 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, 12.3% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 15.7% White, 49.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |