Faculty research assistant vs research laboratory technician

The differences between faculty research assistants and research laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a faculty research assistant, becoming a research laboratory technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a faculty research assistant has an average salary of $59,697, which is higher than the $38,308 average annual salary of a research laboratory technician.

The top three skills for a faculty research assistant include research faculty, C++ and biomedical. The most important skills for a research laboratory technician are patients, chemistry, and laboratory equipment.

Faculty research assistant vs research laboratory technician overview

	Faculty Research Assistant	Research Laboratory Technician
Yearly salary	$59,697	$38,308
Hourly rate	$28.70	$18.42
Growth rate	17%	9%
Number of jobs	56,780	86,476
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age	38	40
Years of experience	2	4

What does a faculty research assistant do?

The main job of a faculty research assistant is to gather and log experimental data. Faculty research assistants analyze the statistical aspect of data sets. They prepare spreadsheets and graphs to portray research results. Their duties and responsibilities include the creation of posters and slides to aid researchers in presenting their findings. They need to develop skills in communication, technical, critical thinking, scheduling, and planning. Also, they must know how to maintain safety, quality, and infection control standards.

What does a research laboratory technician do?

Research laboratory technicians play a vital role in scientific laboratories. They perform varied duties and responsibilities, which include setting up, operating, and maintaining the laboratory equipment, assisting in laboratory-based research activities such as sampling, testing, and analyzing results, and providing technical support to the laboratory team members. In addition, they are expected to support the development and advancement of science and modern medicine. Other typical duties of research laboratory technicians include preparing samples and specimens, keeping abreast with current technical developments, and ensuring strict compliance with safety procedures.

Faculty research assistant vs research laboratory technician salary

Faculty research assistants and research laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Faculty Research Assistant	Research Laboratory Technician
Average salary	$59,697	$38,308
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $92,000	Between $30,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	Chicago, IL
Highest paying state	New Jersey	Illinois
Best paying company	Google	Accenture
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Manufacturing

Differences between faculty research assistant and research laboratory technician education

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

	Faculty Research Assistant	Research Laboratory Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common major	Biology	Biology
Most common college	Harvard University	Cornell University

Faculty research assistant vs research laboratory technician demographics

Here are the differences between faculty research assistants' and research laboratory technicians' demographics:

	Faculty Research Assistant	Research Laboratory Technician
Average age	38	40
Gender ratio	Male, 47.3% Female, 52.7%	Male, 49.0% Female, 51.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 16.5% White, 52.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 15.7% White, 49.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5%
LGBT Percentage	8%	6%

Differences between faculty research assistant and research laboratory technician duties and responsibilities

Faculty research assistant example responsibilities.

Accomplish the optimized synthesis of a carbohydrate antigen globo-H.
Manage all aspects of HPLC method development and analysis through interpretation of data ensuring accuracy of results.
Conduct chemistry research with Dr. Willis Weigand.
Prepare and submit research grant and IRB applications.
Serve as teaching assistant for various courses in chemistry.
Secure NIH funding through writing and submission of a grant proposals.

Research laboratory technician example responsibilities.

Manage RT-PCR screening of candidate genes.
Manage the development of innovative visualization and concept mapping of contest environment analysis challenges and analyst skill sets.
Use many scientific techniques to collect and analyze RNA, DNA, and specific proteins from lines of potato plants.
Preform computational molecular simulation of DNA and RNA.
Retain patients from previous research projects and update database using patient histories and correlating pertinent medical data.
Work with non human primates in an HIV testing laboratory.

Faculty research assistant vs research laboratory technician skills

Common faculty research assistant skills

Research Faculty, 14%
C++, 10%
Biomedical, 7%
Research Projects, 7%
Research Findings, 5%
CRISPR, 4%

Common research laboratory technician skills

Patients, 9%
Chemistry, 7%
Laboratory Equipment, 7%
Cell Culture, 5%
Research Data, 4%
Research Projects, 4%

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Faculty Research Assistant
Faculty Research Assistant vs Research Laboratory Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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