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Neuroscientist vs professional research assistant

The differences between neuroscientists and professional 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 neuroscientist, becoming a professional research assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a neuroscientist has an average salary of $76,267, which is higher than the $58,202 average annual salary of a professional research assistant.

The top three skills for a neuroscientist include literature reviews, animal models and experimental design. The most important skills for a professional research assistant are research projects, data collection, and patients.

Neuroscientist vs professional research assistant overview

NeuroscientistProfessional Research Assistant
Yearly salary$76,267$58,202
Hourly rate$36.67$27.98
Growth rate17%19%
Number of jobs23,04691,813
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4138
Years of experience42

Neuroscientist vs professional research assistant salary

Neuroscientists and professional research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

NeuroscientistProfessional Research Assistant
Average salary$76,267$58,202
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $133,000Between $38,000 And $88,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew Jersey
Best paying companyMetaSiemens
Best paying industry--

Differences between neuroscientist and professional research assistant education

There are a few differences between a neuroscientist and a professional research assistant in terms of educational background:

NeuroscientistProfessional Research Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorBiologyBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaHarvard University

Neuroscientist vs professional research assistant demographics

Here are the differences between neuroscientists' and professional research assistants' demographics:

NeuroscientistProfessional Research Assistant
Average age4138
Gender ratioMale, 47.4% Female, 52.6%Male, 36.1% Female, 63.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.4% Asian, 27.9% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between neuroscientist and professional research assistant duties and responsibilities

Neuroscientist example responsibilities.

  • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
  • Supervise activities of analytical cellular and molecular immunology laboratories.
  • Supervise activities of analytical cellular and molecular immunology laboratories.

Professional research assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage database of consent patients encompassing patient demographics and samples collect ensuring HIPAA standards are adhere to.
  • Perform extraction of rodent RNA and hybridization onto gene expression arrays.
  • Analyze RNA and protein samples.
  • Experience working with CRISPR technology.
  • Provide technical support for an immunology lab course.
  • Perform PBMC isolation, HbA1C assays, glucose analysis and DNA extraction on whole blood samples.
  • Show more

Neuroscientist vs professional research assistant skills

Common neuroscientist skills
  • Literature Reviews, 43%
  • Animal Models, 28%
  • Experimental Design, 16%
  • R, 8%
  • Scientific Data, 4%
Common professional research assistant skills
  • Research Projects, 10%
  • Data Collection, 6%
  • Patients, 5%
  • Cell Culture, 4%
  • Professional Research, 4%
  • PI, 3%

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