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The differences between graduate student assistants and graduate research students can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a graduate student assistant has an average salary of $37,164, which is higher than the $34,658 average annual salary of a graduate research student.
The top three skills for a graduate student assistant include cell culture, R and chemistry. The most important skills for a graduate research student are lab equipment, laboratory equipment, and python.
| Graduate Student Assistant | Graduate Research Student | |
| Yearly salary | $37,164 | $34,658 |
| Hourly rate | $17.87 | $16.66 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 20,764 | 58,921 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Graduate student assistants are graduate students who are employed as support personnel in universities. They assist professors as teaching assistants, research assistants, or aides, depending on their assigned instructions. Their duties include assisting professors in administrative tasks, organizing undergraduate events, and conducting research as well as analyzing data. During the assistantship period, instead of wages, they are given a stipend as compensation to the service provided. This graduate assistantship gives graduate students relevant experience and more employment options in the future.
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 student assistants and graduate research students have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Graduate Student Assistant | Graduate Research Student | |
| Average salary | $37,164 | $34,658 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $64,000 | Between $19,000 And $60,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | Los Alamos National Security LLC | Capgemini |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a graduate student assistant and a graduate research student in terms of educational background:
| Graduate Student Assistant | Graduate Research Student | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between graduate student assistants' and graduate research students' demographics:
| Graduate Student Assistant | Graduate Research Student | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.9% Female, 50.1% | Male, 47.2% Female, 52.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.8% 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% |