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The differences between laboratory interns and laboratory researchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a laboratory internship and a laboratory researcher. Additionally, a laboratory internship has an average salary of $35,305, which is higher than the $27,760 average annual salary of a laboratory researcher.
The top three skills for a laboratory internship include lab procedures, chemistry and python. The most important skills for a laboratory researcher are lab procedures, cell culture, and molecular biology.
| Laboratory Internship | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Yearly salary | $35,305 | $27,760 |
| Hourly rate | $16.97 | $13.35 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 90,970 | 57,359 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A laboratory intern is responsible for assisting laboratory operations and perform examinations and experiments under the supervision of tenured laboratory staff. Laboratory interns shadow all the laboratory processes, document their observations, and conduct an in-depth analysis of the results. They must have excellent knowledge of scientific procedures, demonstrating their class learnings to practical applications. A laboratory intern must be detail-oriented, especially on conducting and verifying the accuracy of research materials. It is also required for a laboratory intern to be a fast-learner, understanding the scientific complexities to master various approaches.
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 interns and laboratory researchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Internship | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Average salary | $35,305 | $27,760 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $48,000 | Between $17,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jersey City, NJ | New Brunswick, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Maine |
| Best paying company | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Education |
There are a few differences between a laboratory internship and a laboratory researcher in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Internship | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between laboratory interns' and laboratory researchers' demographics:
| Laboratory Internship | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.8% Female, 52.2% | Male, 56.7% Female, 43.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 18.2% White, 49.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% | 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 | 6% | 8% |