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The differences between graduate assistants and graduate research students can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a graduate research student has an average salary of $34,658, which is higher than the $31,704 average annual salary of a graduate assistant.
The top three skills for a graduate assistant include computer lab, undergraduate courses and research projects. The most important skills for a graduate research student are lab equipment, laboratory equipment, and python.
| Graduate Assistant | Graduate Research Student | |
| Yearly salary | $31,704 | $34,658 |
| Hourly rate | $15.24 | $16.66 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 3,026 | 58,921 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Graduate assistants are graduate or postgraduate students in a university who work part-time for a researcher, professor, or department in the university. They do a variety of tasks that would help expose them more to the field they are doing their studies in. Graduate assistants help researchers by conducting interviews, testing research tools, encoding and analyzing data, creating presentation materials, and managing the research schedule. They help professors in preparing for lessons, creating and updating presentation materials, and even trying their hand in teaching the professor's students. They help university departments in administrative, clerical, research, and any other task that may be needed.
Graduate research students are learners who conduct degree program-related research in a research unit or an academic department. These students manage themselves independently as well as their work. They make certain that they have familiarized the requirements of the university. Educators and other scholars expect them to develop enough research and skills. Their responsibilities include academic honesty, participation in supervisory meetings, and maintenance of effective supervisor communication. In terms of their research, they should have a research plan ahead.
Graduate assistants and graduate research students have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Graduate Assistant | Graduate Research Student | |
| Average salary | $31,704 | $34,658 |
| Salary range | Between $11,000 And $85,000 | Between $19,000 And $60,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | Sotheby's Institute of Art | Capgemini |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a graduate assistant and a graduate research student in terms of educational background:
| Graduate Assistant | Graduate Research Student | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Biology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between graduate assistants' and graduate research students' demographics:
| Graduate Assistant | Graduate Research Student | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1% | Male, 47.2% Female, 52.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 11.0% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 11.8% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |