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The differences between chemistry laboratory assistants and associate scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a chemistry laboratory assistant, becoming an associate scientist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an associate scientist has an average salary of $76,461, which is higher than the $30,971 average annual salary of a chemistry laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a chemistry laboratory assistant include lab equipment, lab safety and chemistry lab. The most important skills for an associate scientist are chemistry, patients, and cell culture.
| Chemistry Laboratory Assistant | Associate Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $30,971 | $76,461 |
| Hourly rate | $14.89 | $36.76 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 40,180 | 54,950 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Chemical Laboratory Assistants are professionals who help researchers and scientists in performing lab experiments and tests. Their tasks involve the maintenance, cleanliness, or sterilization of laboratory equipment or instruments. They perform physical or chemical laboratory tests assisting scientists in the quantitative or qualitative analyses of liquids, gaseous materials, and solids. The necessary skills and knowledge for this job include chemistry, lab reporting, chemical solutions, and safety procedures.
An Associate Scientist assists in various experiments and research, working under the direction of a lead scientist. Their specialties may include biological life sciences, geo-science, atmospheric physics, and computing.
Chemistry laboratory assistants and associate scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chemistry Laboratory Assistant | Associate Scientist | |
| Average salary | $30,971 | $76,461 |
| Salary range | Between $16,000 And $58,000 | Between $53,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hartford, CT | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | California |
| Best paying company | Pace University | Phillips 66 |
| Best paying industry | Education | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a chemistry laboratory assistant and an associate scientist in terms of educational background:
| Chemistry Laboratory Assistant | Associate Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Biology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between chemistry laboratory assistants' and associate scientists' demographics:
| Chemistry Laboratory Assistant | Associate Scientist | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.5% Female, 54.5% | Male, 48.6% Female, 51.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 9.5% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |