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The differences between cell technicians and laboratory research assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a cell technician, becoming a laboratory research assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a cell technician has an average salary of $51,227, which is higher than the $36,537 average annual salary of a laboratory research assistant.
The top three skills for a cell technician include harvest, CIP and cell culture. The most important skills for a laboratory research assistant are data collection, patients, and laboratory equipment.
| Cell Technician | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $51,227 | $36,537 |
| Hourly rate | $24.63 | $17.57 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 18,729 | 87,343 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
Cell tower technicians are responsible for maintaining cell phone towers and keeping them in good working condition. They make sure that cell phones are receiving signals all the time without any lag or problem and that customers always have full bars. Their duties include repairing and restoring old materials and equipment, assessing functionality, building, returning, and setting up new towers, as well as consistent servicing and maintenance. Technician applicants are required to have a degree in electronics telecommunications and undergo job and safety training.
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.
Cell technicians and laboratory research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cell Technician | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $51,227 | $36,537 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $79,000 | Between $24,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | General Motors | New York University |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Education |
There are a few differences between a cell technician and a laboratory research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Cell Technician | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between cell technicians' and laboratory research assistants' demographics:
| Cell Technician | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.3% Female, 23.7% | Male, 46.2% Female, 53.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 12.7% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% | 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 | 6% | 8% |