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What does an economic research assistant do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read

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.

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Economic research assistant responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real economic research assistant resumes:

  • Evaluate patients' study eligibility via medical history, obtain informed consent, enroll patients, and achieve enrollment quotas.
  • Conduct quantitative data analysis utilizing the statistical software STATA.
  • Perform regression analysis on large datasets and develop machine learning models to aid client decision making.
  • Analyze and regress data with SAS to find statistically significant causes.
  • Perform panel data regression analysis and statistical testing of hypotheses with STATA.
  • Guide the technical implementation of an automate analysis system (electrophoresis station), with the enhancement of its operational efficiency.
  • Arrange and plan conferences symposiums.
  • Assist in class teaching and instruct on APA style writing.
  • Analyze facial muscle activity by electroencephalography within a sensory deprivation chamber.

Economic research assistant skills and personality traits

We calculated that 12% of Economic Research Assistants are proficient in BLS, Data Collection, and Statistical Data. They’re also known for soft skills such as Speaking skills, Writing skills, and Analytical skills.

We break down the percentage of Economic Research Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • BLS, 12%

    Collect prices and related statistical data on housing for the construction of BLS Consumer Price Index.

  • Data Collection, 10%

    Utilized data collection instrument and probability software to collect and report Consumer Price Index monthly.

  • Statistical Data, 9%

    Conduct personal and telephone interviews with professionals to collect statistical data.

  • Telephone Interviews, 7%

    Conduct telephone interviews with medical experts.

  • Commodities, 6%

    Collected data for Housing Commodities and Services.

  • Stata, 5%

    Performed panel data regression analysis and statistical testing of hypotheses with STATA.

"bls," "data collection," and "statistical data" are among the most common skills that economic research assistants use at work. You can find even more economic research assistant responsibilities below, including:

Analytical skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of economic research assistants is analytical skills. This skill is critical to many everyday economic research assistant duties, as "economists must be able to review data and observe patterns to draw logical conclusions." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "realized data visualization for primary care clinics utilization study using gis. "

Communication skills. A big part of what economic research assistants do relies on "communication skills." You can see how essential it is to economic research assistant responsibilities because "economists must be able to explain their work through presentations and in written reports." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical economic research assistant tasks: "conducted and summarized literature review on race and patient-physician communication using pubmed and medline performed statistical analysis on quantitative data using r"

See the full list of economic research assistant skills

The three companies that hire the most economic research assistants are:

Choose from 10+ customizable economic research assistant resume templates

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Economic Research Assistant Resume
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Compare different economic research assistants

Economic research assistant vs. Research scholar

Research scholars are college students who perform on projects in a particular field for a university or organization. Generally, they work with professors and other professionals in the field of study and focus on discovering new information that can be produced in trade or academic journals. Also, they pursue intellectual and academic activities as well as may engaged in educating other researchers. They are usually paid a stipend for a set duration of time, and some may work outside the university.

We looked at the average economic research assistant salary and compared it with the wages of a research scholar. Generally speaking, research scholars are paid $1,873 lower than economic research assistants per year.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both economic research assistant and research scholar positions are skilled in data collection, r, and data analysis.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, economic research assistant responsibilities require skills like "bls," "statistical data," "telephone interviews," and "commodities." Meanwhile a typical research scholar has skills in areas such as "c++," "original research," "pcr," and "molecular biology." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Research scholars earn the highest salaries when working in the technology industry, with an average yearly salary of $71,344. On the other hand, economic research assistants are paid more in the finance industry with an average salary of $91,505.On average, research scholars reach higher levels of education than economic research assistants. Research scholars are 6.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 12.8% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Economic research assistant vs. Research internship

A research intern is responsible for assisting the research team with conducting an investigation, compiling information, and analyzing results for an organized research study. Research interns' duties also include understanding the work processes and operation procedures, sharing strategies and recommendations on research methods, reaching out to appropriate research correspondents, managing clients' inquiries and concerns, keeping important client records for reference, studying current market trends, and maintaining the eagerness to learn. A research intern must have strong attention to detail and excellent communication skills to perform on daily research tasks.

On average, research interns earn a $20,347 lower salary than economic research assistants a year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both economic research assistants and research interns have skills such as "data collection," "stata," and "r."

Each career also uses different skills, according to real economic research assistant resumes. While economic research assistant responsibilities can utilize skills like "bls," "statistical data," "telephone interviews," and "commodities," research interns use skills like "c++," "research intern," "java," and "facebook."

Research interns may earn a lower salary than economic research assistants, but research interns earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $52,879. On the other hand, economic research assistants receive higher pay in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $91,505.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Research interns tend to reach similar levels of education than economic research assistants. In fact, they're 3.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 12.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Economic research assistant vs. Research volunteer

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

On average, research volunteers earn lower salaries than economic research assistants, with a $5,252 difference per year.economic research assistants and research volunteers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "data collection," "r," and "data analysis," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an economic research assistant is likely to be skilled in "bls," "statistical data," "telephone interviews," and "commodities," while a typical research volunteer is skilled in "lab procedures," "cell culture," "laboratory techniques," and "rt-pcr."

Most research volunteers achieve a similar degree level compared to economic research assistants. For example, they're 4.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Economic research assistant vs. Assistant research scientist

Assistant research scientists average a higher salary than the annual salary of economic research assistants. The difference is about $2,860 per year.While their salaries may vary, economic research assistants and assistant research scientists both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "data collection," "r," and "data analysis. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "bls," "statistical data," "telephone interviews," and "commodities" are skills that commonly show up on economic research assistant resumes. On the other hand, assistant research scientists use skills like lab equipment, cell culture, chemistry, and laboratory equipment on their resumes.In general, assistant research scientists earn the most working in the education industry, with an average salary of $71,080. The highest-paying industry for an economic research assistant is the finance industry.In general, assistant research scientists hold similar degree levels compared to economic research assistants. Assistant research scientists are 2.3% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 11.9% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of economic research assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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