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Junior chemist vs professional research assistant

The differences between junior chemists and professional research assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a junior chemist has an average salary of $64,002, which is higher than the $58,202 average annual salary of a professional research assistant.

The top three skills for a junior chemist include lab equipment, R and HPLC. The most important skills for a professional research assistant are research projects, data collection, and patients.

Junior chemist vs professional research assistant overview

Junior ChemistProfessional Research Assistant
Yearly salary$64,002$58,202
Hourly rate$30.77$27.98
Growth rate6%19%
Number of jobs13,46191,813
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4238
Years of experience-2

What does a junior chemist do?

A Junior Chemist prepares test solutions, compounds, and reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct the test. They work under the supervision of a senior chemist.

What does a professional research assistant do?

A professional research assistant works under the supervision of primary researchers leading research projects. Research assistants help the main researchers in different tasks supporting research activities. These tasks vary based on research conducted and their field. The assistants prepare the interview questions and provide a results summary. They respond to emails, participate in project meetings, and prepare progress reports. Skills necessary for this job include communication skills, critical thinking, attention to detail, scheduling, and planning.

Junior chemist vs professional research assistant salary

Junior chemists and professional research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Junior ChemistProfessional Research Assistant
Average salary$64,002$58,202
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $110,000Between $38,000 And $88,000
Highest paying CityEast Windsor, NJWashington, DC
Highest paying stateDelawareNew Jersey
Best paying companyAPTIMSiemens
Best paying industryManufacturing-

Differences between junior chemist and professional research assistant education

There are a few differences between a junior chemist and a professional research assistant in terms of educational background:

Junior ChemistProfessional Research Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorChemistryBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaHarvard University

Junior chemist vs professional research assistant demographics

Here are the differences between junior chemists' and professional research assistants' demographics:

Junior ChemistProfessional Research Assistant
Average age4238
Gender ratioMale, 58.2% Female, 41.8%Male, 36.1% Female, 63.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 19.7% White, 58.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage5%8%

Differences between junior chemist and professional research assistant duties and responsibilities

Junior chemist example responsibilities.

  • Achieve and maintain ISO 9001-2000 certification by creating and implementing policies and serving as management representative.
  • Process laboratory data to ensure efficiency of plant operations and troubleshoot unexpect conditions to prevent an upset within the plant.
  • Solve the quality issues with Zithromax SDD extrusion during a systems audit of the start up process, in Vega Baja.
  • Provide general support to the custom mixing and extrusion departments in day-to-day operations.

Professional research assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage database of consent patients encompassing patient demographics and samples collect ensuring HIPAA standards are adhere to.
  • Perform extraction of rodent RNA and hybridization onto gene expression arrays.
  • Analyze RNA and protein samples.
  • Experience working with CRISPR technology.
  • Provide technical support for an immunology lab course.
  • Perform PBMC isolation, HbA1C assays, glucose analysis and DNA extraction on whole blood samples.
  • Show more

Junior chemist vs professional research assistant skills

Common junior chemist skills
  • Lab Equipment, 17%
  • R, 8%
  • HPLC, 6%
  • PH Meter, 5%
  • QC, 5%
  • Analytical Instruments, 5%
Common professional research assistant skills
  • Research Projects, 10%
  • Data Collection, 6%
  • Patients, 5%
  • Cell Culture, 4%
  • Professional Research, 4%
  • PI, 3%

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