Junior research scientist vs research laboratory technician

The differences between junior research scientists and research laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a junior research scientist and a research laboratory technician. Additionally, a junior research scientist has an average salary of $67,062, which is higher than the $38,308 average annual salary of a research laboratory technician.

The top three skills for a junior research scientist include python, PI and C++. The most important skills for a research laboratory technician are patients, chemistry, and laboratory equipment.

Junior research scientist vs research laboratory technician overview

	Junior Research Scientist	Research Laboratory Technician
Yearly salary	$67,062	$38,308
Hourly rate	$32.24	$18.42
Growth rate	17%	9%
Number of jobs	101,873	86,476
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age	41	40
Years of experience	4	4

What does a junior research scientist do?

A junior research scientist is responsible for evaluating and interpreting scientific results from laboratory investigations and experiments. Junior research scientists assist the senior scientists in gathering information to support research studies and claims. They perform both laboratory and field trials to collect samples for further examinations. A junior research scientist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing comprehensive reports, following accurate scientific methodologies, and submitting the research findings on time to the research supervisor.

What does a research laboratory technician do?

Research laboratory technicians play a vital role in scientific laboratories. They perform varied duties and responsibilities, which include setting up, operating, and maintaining the laboratory equipment, assisting in laboratory-based research activities such as sampling, testing, and analyzing results, and providing technical support to the laboratory team members. In addition, they are expected to support the development and advancement of science and modern medicine. Other typical duties of research laboratory technicians include preparing samples and specimens, keeping abreast with current technical developments, and ensuring strict compliance with safety procedures.

Junior research scientist vs research laboratory technician salary

Junior research scientists and research laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Junior Research Scientist	Research Laboratory Technician
Average salary	$67,062	$38,308
Salary range	Between $48,000 And $92,000	Between $30,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City	South San Francisco, CA	Chicago, IL
Highest paying state	California	Illinois
Best paying company	Zappos.com	Accenture
Best paying industry	Education	Manufacturing

Differences between junior research scientist and research laboratory technician education

There are a few differences between a junior research scientist and a research laboratory technician in terms of educational background:

	Junior Research Scientist	Research Laboratory Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common major	Biology	Biology
Most common college	University of Southern California	Cornell University

Junior research scientist vs research laboratory technician demographics

Here are the differences between junior research scientists' and research laboratory technicians' demographics:

	Junior Research Scientist	Research Laboratory Technician
Average age	41	40
Gender ratio	Male, 48.3% Female, 51.7%	Male, 49.0% Female, 51.0%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 15.7% White, 49.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5%
LGBT Percentage	8%	6%

Differences between junior research scientist and research laboratory technician duties and responsibilities

Junior research scientist example responsibilities.

Manage the development of innovative visualization and concept mapping of contest environment analysis challenges and analyst skill sets.
Collect DNA and RNA from plants.
Assist in preparing IRB amendments and submissions.
Perform ELISA on clinical samples in an NIH fund laboratory.
Validate materials in QC and document all relevant data and present results.
Train laboratory personnel on the quality control system as well as the HPLC as necessary.

Research laboratory technician example responsibilities.

Manage RT-PCR screening of candidate genes.
Manage the development of innovative visualization and concept mapping of contest environment analysis challenges and analyst skill sets.
Use many scientific techniques to collect and analyze RNA, DNA, and specific proteins from lines of potato plants.
Preform computational molecular simulation of DNA and RNA.
Retain patients from previous research projects and update database using patient histories and correlating pertinent medical data.
Work with non human primates in an HIV testing laboratory.

Junior research scientist vs research laboratory technician skills

Common junior research scientist skills

Python, 22%
PI, 18%
C++, 11%
Data Collection, 10%
Data Entry, 6%
Literature, 6%

Common research laboratory technician skills

Patients, 9%
Chemistry, 7%
Laboratory Equipment, 7%
Cell Culture, 5%
Research Data, 4%
Research Projects, 4%

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Junior Research Scientist
Junior Research Scientist vs Research Laboratory Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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