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The differences between biology research assistants and research 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 technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a biology research assistant has an average salary of $50,800, which is higher than the $43,034 average annual salary of a research 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 technician are patients, data collection, and cell culture.
| Biology Research Assistant | Research Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $50,800 | $43,034 |
| Hourly rate | $24.42 | $20.69 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 50,666 | 64,786 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| 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.
A research technician is responsible for assisting in research studies and laboratory experiments. Research technicians operate laboratory tools and equipment, process data for experiments, collect samples for study, analyze existing research materials, analyze experiment results, manage inventories and stock supplies, record observations, and create reports for further examination. A research technician must have strong analytical and scientific knowledge, as well as a passion for research writing and investigations crucial for this kind of industry.
Biology research assistants and research technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biology Research Assistant | Research Technician | |
| Average salary | $50,800 | $43,034 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $78,000 | Between $31,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Brunswick, NJ | Pasadena, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Battelle | GCP Applied Technologies |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a biology research assistant and a research technician in terms of educational background:
| Biology Research Assistant | Research Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between biology research assistants' and research technicians' demographics:
| Biology Research Assistant | Research Technician | |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% | Male, 49.3% Female, 50.7% |
| 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, 12.0% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 16.5% White, 49.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |