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Chemical laboratory technician vs assistant research scientist

The differences between chemical laboratory technicians and assistant research scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a chemical laboratory technician and an assistant research scientist. Additionally, an assistant research scientist has an average salary of $62,780, which is higher than the $41,087 average annual salary of a chemical laboratory technician.

The top three skills for a chemical laboratory technician include lab equipment, routine maintenance and chemical analysis. The most important skills for an assistant research scientist are research projects, data collection, and data analysis.

Chemical laboratory technician vs assistant research scientist overview

Chemical Laboratory TechnicianAssistant Research Scientist
Yearly salary$41,087$62,780
Hourly rate$19.75$30.18
Growth rate4%17%
Number of jobs47,03688,786
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4438
Years of experience22

What does a chemical laboratory technician do?

A chemical laboratory technician is in charge of performing support tasks for chemists in a laboratory or similar setting. Their duties and responsibilities typically revolve around handling and managing chemicals and laboratory apparatuses, gathering and preparing samples, performing analysis, operating machines and devices, and maintaining records of all procedures and results. They may also procure supplies, organize chemicals, and ensure proper waste disposal. Furthermore, as a chemical laboratory technician, it is essential to maintain the cleanliness and order in laboratories, all while implementing its policies and regulations.

What does an assistant research scientist do?

An Assistant Research Scientist assists in planning, conducting, and analyzing various research projects. They also order and manage lab inventory, materials, and equipment.

Chemical laboratory technician vs assistant research scientist salary

Chemical laboratory technicians and assistant research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Chemical Laboratory TechnicianAssistant Research Scientist
Average salary$41,087$62,780
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $51,000Between $43,000 And $89,000
Highest paying CityAlbuquerque, NMSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMarylandMassachusetts
Best paying companyBasin Electric Power CooperativeUniversity of California
Best paying industryTechnologyEducation

Differences between chemical laboratory technician and assistant research scientist education

There are a few differences between a chemical laboratory technician and an assistant research scientist in terms of educational background:

Chemical Laboratory TechnicianAssistant Research Scientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorChemistryBiology
Most common collegeStanford UniversityHarvard University

Chemical laboratory technician vs assistant research scientist demographics

Here are the differences between chemical laboratory technicians' and assistant research scientists' demographics:

Chemical Laboratory TechnicianAssistant Research Scientist
Average age4438
Gender ratioMale, 60.8% Female, 39.2%Male, 55.6% Female, 44.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 8.4% White, 62.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 16.7% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage9%8%

Differences between chemical laboratory technician and assistant research scientist duties and responsibilities

Chemical laboratory technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage daily production schedule, monitor machine operation, addressed any etching machinery problems.
  • Utilize instrumental and titration analysis on various chemical baths to maintain control of processes and insure product quality.
  • Keep accurate records and report results as per ISO documentation requirements.
  • Perform test on in-process products using UV and HPLC instruments including cleaning equipment verification tests.
  • Prepare and analyze samples in compliance with TCEQ, ISO 14001 and 9001, and other regulatory standards
  • Perform extractions, cold point, and viscosity processes per NIST, ASTM, GMP, and GLP guidelines.
  • Show more

Assistant research scientist example responsibilities.

  • Lead a group of four employees in optimizing DNA purification technologies for production DNA sequencing.
  • Evaluate patients' study eligibility via medical history, obtain informed consent, enroll patients, and achieve enrollment quotas.
  • Experience in SAS programming in biomedical research.
  • Prepare salivary samples for Cortisol ELISA assays.
  • Gather and code quantitative and qualitative data using SPSS and Atlas.ti.
  • Standardize assays to elucidate the mechanism of action of lead molecules.
  • Show more

Chemical laboratory technician vs assistant research scientist skills

Common chemical laboratory technician skills
  • Lab Equipment, 13%
  • Routine Maintenance, 4%
  • Chemical Analysis, 4%
  • Analytical Methods, 4%
  • Chemical Processes, 4%
  • Chromatography, 3%
Common assistant research scientist skills
  • Research Projects, 8%
  • Data Collection, 7%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Lab Equipment, 4%
  • Cell Culture, 4%
  • Chemistry, 4%

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