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The differences between biology research assistants and senior research associates 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 senior research associate. Additionally, a senior research associate has an average salary of $72,618, which is higher than the $50,800 average annual salary of a biology 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 senior research associate are patients, data analysis, and CRISPR.
| Biology Research Assistant | Senior Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $50,800 | $72,618 |
| Hourly rate | $24.42 | $34.91 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 50,666 | 58,903 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| 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 Senior Research Associate works closely with research team members to implement research ideas. They diagnose, solve system/software problems, and install application software according to research needs.
Biology research assistants and senior research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biology Research Assistant | Senior Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $50,800 | $72,618 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $78,000 | Between $51,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Brunswick, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | Battelle | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Government |
There are a few differences between a biology research assistant and a senior research associate in terms of educational background:
| Biology Research Assistant | Senior Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between biology research assistants' and senior research associates' demographics:
| Biology Research Assistant | Senior Research Associate | |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% | Male, 53.6% Female, 46.4% |
| 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, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 13.4% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |