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The differences between cell technicians and professional 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 professional research assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a professional research assistant has an average salary of $58,202, which is higher than the $51,227 average annual salary of a cell technician.
The top three skills for a cell technician include harvest, CIP and cell culture. The most important skills for a professional research assistant are research projects, data collection, and patients.
| Cell Technician | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $51,227 | $58,202 |
| Hourly rate | $24.63 | $27.98 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 18,729 | 91,813 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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 professional research assistant works under the supervision of primary researchers leading research projects. Research assistants help the main researchers in different tasks supporting research activities. These tasks vary based on research conducted and their field. The assistants prepare the interview questions and provide a results summary. They respond to emails, participate in project meetings, and prepare progress reports. Skills necessary for this job include communication skills, critical thinking, attention to detail, scheduling, and planning.
Cell technicians and professional research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cell Technician | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $51,227 | $58,202 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $79,000 | Between $38,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | General Motors | Siemens |
| Best paying industry | Finance | - |
There are a few differences between a cell technician and a professional research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Cell Technician | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between cell technicians' and professional research assistants' demographics:
| Cell Technician | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.3% Female, 23.7% | Male, 36.1% Female, 63.9% |
| 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, 9.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |