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The differences between graduate research students and research fellows can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a research fellow has an average salary of $53,823, which is higher than the $34,658 average annual salary of a graduate research student.
The top three skills for a graduate research student include lab equipment, laboratory equipment and python. The most important skills for a research fellow are patients, research projects, and data analysis.
| Graduate Research Student | Research Fellow | |
| Yearly salary | $34,658 | $53,823 |
| Hourly rate | $16.66 | $25.88 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 58,921 | 59,746 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| 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.
A research fellow is an academic researcher who conducts research and analysis of comprehensive literature, data, and results and provides literature reviews. He/She supervises research assistants and recruits study participants to interview them for a particular study. To become a research fellow, a candidate should have a doctorate in a relevant discipline and publish peer-reviewed papers. Also, a research fellow can be an independent investigator or be supervised by a principal investigator.
Graduate research students and research fellows have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Graduate Research Student | Research Fellow | |
| Average salary | $34,658 | $53,823 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $60,000 | Between $39,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | South San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Capgemini | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Education | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a graduate research student and a research fellow in terms of educational background:
| Graduate Research Student | Research Fellow | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between graduate research students' and research fellows' demographics:
| Graduate Research Student | Research Fellow | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.2% Female, 52.8% | Male, 55.3% Female, 44.7% |
| 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, 27.1% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |