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The differences between laboratory assistants and laboratory researchers 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 researcher takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a laboratory assistant has an average salary of $34,168, which is higher than the $27,760 average annual salary of a laboratory researcher.
The top three skills for a laboratory assistant include patients, phlebotomy and customer service. The most important skills for a laboratory researcher are lab procedures, cell culture, and molecular biology.
| Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Yearly salary | $34,168 | $27,760 |
| Hourly rate | $16.43 | $13.35 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 50,853 | 57,359 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
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.
Laboratory researchers are professionals who manage a research laboratory while performing cellular and biochemical experiments with the primary researcher. These researchers must work with hazardous chemicals and should show expertise in handling lab equipment such as glassware and field equipment. They are required to assist with research projects and interpret the test data of an experiment. They must manage the order of all lab equipment by filling up the purchase requisition forms. Laboratory researchers are required to work with students in all aspects of laboratory research.
Laboratory assistants and laboratory researchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Average salary | $34,168 | $27,760 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $44,000 | Between $17,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | New Brunswick, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Maine |
| Best paying company | UST Global | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Education |
There are a few differences between a laboratory assistant and a laboratory researcher in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | New York University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between laboratory assistants' and laboratory researchers' demographics:
| Laboratory Assistant | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4% | Male, 56.7% Female, 43.3% |
| 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, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |