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The differences between microbiologists and research assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a microbiologist and a research assistant. Additionally, a microbiologist has an average salary of $54,620, which is higher than the $42,896 average annual salary of a research assistant.
The top three skills for a microbiologist include lab equipment, microbiology lab and environmental monitoring. The most important skills for a research assistant are patients, lab equipment, and data collection.
| Microbiologist | Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $54,620 | $42,896 |
| Hourly rate | $26.26 | $20.62 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 11,444 | 51,080 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Microbiologists are responsible for studying the microscopic organisms causing infections and environmental damage, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Their work focuses on the identification and growth of these microbes to better understand their characteristics that may help in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious and bacterial diseases. They use sophisticated technologies and machinery to study microbes and perform their tasks. These scientists are also responsible for developing best practices and techniques for routine sampling and research. Microbiologists may work in various settings, including laboratories, research institutes, and hospitals.
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.
Microbiologists and research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Microbiologist | Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $54,620 | $42,896 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $75,000 | Between $28,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | New Brunswick, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Battelle | JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a microbiologist and a research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Microbiologist | Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Biology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between microbiologists' and research assistants' demographics:
| Microbiologist | Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% | Male, 46.3% Female, 53.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 13.6% White, 69.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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 | 10% | 8% |