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Junior research assistant vs professional research assistant

The differences between junior research assistants and professional research assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a junior research assistant and a professional research assistant. Additionally, a professional research assistant has an average salary of $58,202, which is higher than the $54,557 average annual salary of a junior research assistant.

The top three skills for a junior research assistant include patient care, data analysis and cell culture. The most important skills for a professional research assistant are research projects, data collection, and patients.

Junior research assistant vs professional research assistant overview

Junior Research AssistantProfessional Research Assistant
Yearly salary$54,557$58,202
Hourly rate$26.23$27.98
Growth rate19%19%
Number of jobs57,39591,813
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age3838
Years of experience22

Junior research assistant vs professional research assistant salary

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

Junior Research AssistantProfessional Research Assistant
Average salary$54,557$58,202
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $90,000Between $38,000 And $88,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Siemens
Best paying industry--

Differences between junior research assistant and professional research assistant education

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

Junior Research AssistantProfessional Research Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityHarvard University

Junior research assistant vs professional research assistant demographics

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

Junior Research AssistantProfessional Research Assistant
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 40.1% Female, 59.9%Male, 36.1% Female, 63.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 16.4% White, 52.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%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 Percentage8%8%

Differences between junior research assistant and professional research assistant duties and responsibilities

Junior research assistant example responsibilities.

  • Evaluate patients' study eligibility via medical history, obtain informed consent, enroll patients, and achieve enrollment quotas.
  • Perform cDNA cloning and DNA sequence analysis.
  • Train staff in DNA techniques and teach graduate level laboratory classes.
  • Proofread research report for accuracy and consistency.
  • Proofread drafts for publication in family law periodicals on topics relate to posthumous reproduction, assist
  • Key stakeholder in human capital management including hiring, training and relocation of human resources.
  • Show more

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 research assistant vs professional research assistant skills

Common junior research assistant skills
  • Patient Care, 14%
  • Data Analysis, 10%
  • Cell Culture, 8%
  • Behavioral Data, 7%
  • Vital Signs, 6%
  • RNA, 6%
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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