Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between laboratory assistants 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 assistant, 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 $34,168 average annual salary of a laboratory assistant.
The top three skills for a laboratory assistant include patients, phlebotomy and customer service. The most important skills for a laboratory research assistant are data collection, patients, and laboratory equipment.
| Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $34,168 | $36,537 |
| Hourly rate | $16.43 | $17.57 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 50,853 | 87,343 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 44 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
Laboratory assistants work for researchers, scientists, or professors in the laboratory setting. They are expected to have a solid background in the field of study of the laboratory they are assigned to. They do a variety of tasks in the laboratory, such as setting up equipment, observing experiments, analyzing results, creating reports, and recommending improvements to the testing. They may also be assigned to clean and sanitize laboratory equipment as needed. Laboratory assistants should have good research skills, analytical skills, and organizational skills.
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 assistants and laboratory research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $34,168 | $36,537 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $44,000 | Between $24,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | UST Global | New York University |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Education |
There are a few differences between a laboratory assistant and a laboratory research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between laboratory assistants' and laboratory research assistants' demographics:
| Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4% | Male, 46.2% Female, 53.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 13.9% White, 53.5% 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% |