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The differences between laboratory interns and research assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a laboratory internship, becoming a research assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a research assistant has an average salary of $42,896, which is higher than the $35,305 average annual salary of a laboratory internship.
The top three skills for a laboratory internship include lab procedures, chemistry and python. The most important skills for a research assistant are patients, lab equipment, and data collection.
| Laboratory Internship | Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $35,305 | $42,896 |
| Hourly rate | $16.97 | $20.62 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 90,970 | 51,080 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
Research assistants give support to researchers or other professionals who need assistance as they conduct experiments, studies, or other research projects. Research assistants help in conducting experiments, surveys, or interviews under the supervision of the primary researcher. They also work on research activities such as literature reviews, collect data, assist in interpreting results, prepare designs or visuals for the presentation of the results, and even ensure that all the tools and documentation related to the study are properly organized. They also assist in fact-checking the output and ensure that the data presented are accurate. Research assistants usually possess an academic background that is related to the main research topic.
Laboratory interns and research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Internship | Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $35,305 | $42,896 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $48,000 | Between $28,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jersey City, NJ | New Brunswick, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory | JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a laboratory internship and a research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Internship | Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Biology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between laboratory interns' and research assistants' demographics:
| Laboratory Internship | Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.8% Female, 52.2% | Male, 46.3% Female, 53.7% |
| 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, 8.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 16.9% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |