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The differences between economic research assistants and professional research assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an economic research assistant and a professional research assistant. Additionally, an economic research assistant has an average salary of $59,920, which is higher than the $58,202 average annual salary of a professional research assistant.
The top three skills for an economic research assistant include BLS, data collection and statistical data. The most important skills for a professional research assistant are research projects, data collection, and patients.
| Economic Research Assistant | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $59,920 | $58,202 |
| Hourly rate | $28.81 | $27.98 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 47,035 | 91,813 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Working alongside economists and social scientists, an economic research assistant delves deeper into the principles, evolution, and current trends in the economy. They help develop surveys and polls that might help get citizens' thoughts on the economy and market. They must have ample knowledge of computers, data entry, and basic arithmetic and statistics to input data and acquire results immediately. They work to assist economists in providing citizens real-time reports on societal and economic trends, and market exchanges.
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.
Economic research assistants and professional research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Economic Research Assistant | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $59,920 | $58,202 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $101,000 | Between $38,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | The George Washington University | Siemens |
| Best paying industry | Finance | - |
There are a few differences between an economic research assistant and a professional research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Economic Research Assistant | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Economics | Biology |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between economic research assistants' and professional research assistants' demographics:
| Economic Research Assistant | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 54.6% Female, 45.4% | Male, 36.1% Female, 63.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 8% | 8% |