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The differences between faculty research assistants and senior research associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a faculty research assistant and a senior research associate. Additionally, a senior research associate has an average salary of $72,618, 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 senior research associate are patients, data analysis, and CRISPR.
| Faculty Research Assistant | Senior Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $59,697 | $72,618 |
| Hourly rate | $28.70 | $34.91 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 56,780 | 58,903 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A Senior Research Associate works closely with research team members to implement research ideas. They diagnose, solve system/software problems, and install application software according to research needs.
Faculty research assistants and senior research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Faculty Research Assistant | Senior Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $59,697 | $72,618 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $92,000 | Between $51,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Government |
There are a few differences between a faculty research assistant and a senior research associate in terms of educational background:
| Faculty Research Assistant | Senior Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between faculty research assistants' and senior research associates' demographics:
| Faculty Research Assistant | Senior Research Associate | |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.3% Female, 52.7% | Male, 53.6% Female, 46.4% |
| 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, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 13.4% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |