Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between graduate research students and laboratory researchers 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 $27,760 average annual salary of a laboratory researcher.
The top three skills for a graduate research student include lab equipment, laboratory equipment and python. The most important skills for a laboratory researcher are lab procedures, cell culture, and molecular biology.
| Graduate Research Student | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Yearly salary | $34,658 | $27,760 |
| Hourly rate | $16.66 | $13.35 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 58,921 | 57,359 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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.
Laboratory researchers are professionals who manage a research laboratory while performing cellular and biochemical experiments with the primary researcher. These researchers must work with hazardous chemicals and should show expertise in handling lab equipment such as glassware and field equipment. They are required to assist with research projects and interpret the test data of an experiment. They must manage the order of all lab equipment by filling up the purchase requisition forms. Laboratory researchers are required to work with students in all aspects of laboratory research.
Graduate research students and laboratory researchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Graduate Research Student | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Average salary | $34,658 | $27,760 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $60,000 | Between $17,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | New Brunswick, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | Maine |
| Best paying company | Capgemini | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a graduate research student and a laboratory researcher in terms of educational background:
| Graduate Research Student | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between graduate research students' and laboratory researchers' demographics:
| Graduate Research Student | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.2% Female, 52.8% | Male, 56.7% Female, 43.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |