Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between laboratory aides and laboratory research assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a laboratory aide, becoming a laboratory research assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a laboratory research assistant has an average salary of $36,537, which is higher than the $28,083 average annual salary of a laboratory aide.
The top three skills for a laboratory aide include patients, specimen handling and lab equipment. The most important skills for a laboratory research assistant are data collection, patients, and laboratory equipment.
| Laboratory Aide | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $28,083 | $36,537 |
| Hourly rate | $13.50 | $17.57 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 89,595 | 87,343 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 44 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
A laboratory aide is primarily responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and order in laboratories, all while performing support tasks for scientists. Their duties revolve around arranging specimens and samples, transporting materials from one laboratory to another, preparing apparatuses and machines, and storing them accordingly. A laboratory aide may also run errands, produce progress reports, sanitize areas and instruments, and properly dispose of chemicals and other hazardous waste. Furthermore, it is crucial to implement the laboratory's safety policies and regulations, ensuring a safe and healthy laboratory environment for everyone.
A laboratory research assistant is an individual who performs lab experiments and carries out projects designed by senior lab staff members. Laboratory research assistants design and conduct experiments using biohazards and other dangerous materials to gain information and test scientific processes. They must write detailed reports of their research and experiments and then deliver these reports in written and verbal forms. Laboratory research assistants may also work in different settings such as medical facilities and pharmaceutical companies.
Laboratory aides and laboratory research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Aide | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $28,083 | $36,537 |
| Salary range | Between $20,000 And $38,000 | Between $24,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Illumina | New York University |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Education |
There are a few differences between a laboratory aide and a laboratory research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Aide | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between laboratory aides' and laboratory research assistants' demographics:
| Laboratory Aide | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.4% Female, 57.6% | Male, 46.2% Female, 53.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 12.1% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 16.6% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |