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The differences between faculty research assistants and research leaders 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 leader takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a research leader has an average salary of $107,345, which is higher than the $59,697 average annual salary of a faculty research assistant.
The top three skills for a faculty research assistant include research faculty, C++ and biomedical. The most important skills for a research leader are data collection, data analysis, and market research.
| Faculty Research Assistant | Research Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $59,697 | $107,345 |
| Hourly rate | $28.70 | $51.61 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 56,780 | 77,051 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 38 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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.
Research Leaders are academicians who oversee a group of researchers conducting a study. They are usually well-known researchers in their field of study or area of interest. They manage the group throughout the whole research process. They may orient them at the start of the engagement to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Research Leaders direct the group in identifying the resources needed, finding these resources, and eventually managing them. They also guide the team in conducting the research properly by providing strategic direction, sharing techniques, and helping them analyze the gathered data. With their experience in the field, Research Leaders usually provide frameworks that the team may work within.
Faculty research assistants and research leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Faculty Research Assistant | Research Leader | |
| Average salary | $59,697 | $107,345 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $92,000 | Between $64,000 And $178,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a faculty research assistant and a research leader in terms of educational background:
| Faculty Research Assistant | Research Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Biology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between faculty research assistants' and research leaders' demographics:
| Faculty Research Assistant | Research Leader | |
| Average age | 38 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.3% Female, 52.7% | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |