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The differences between patent agents and associate attorneys can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a patent agent and an associate attorney. Additionally, an associate attorney has an average salary of $110,053, which is higher than the $65,466 average annual salary of a patent agent.
The top three skills for a patent agent include intellectual property, patent prosecution and law firm. The most important skills for an associate attorney are litigation, law firm, and discovery responses.
| Patent Agent | Associate Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $65,466 | $110,053 |
| Hourly rate | $31.47 | $52.91 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 25,562 | 9,183 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Doctoral Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A patent agent is responsible for monitoring the intellectual property rights of an existing patent invention and ensuring that new applications would not coincide with any registered patent. Patent agents handle the application processes and document verification for individuals or the government. They conduct in-depth research and discuss the process with the investors and inform them of any restrictions on issuance. A patent agent must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in performing duties and resolving issues timely and efficiently.
An associate attorney's role is to provide legal counseling to an individual or business entity, resolve legal disputes through crafting agreements and negotiating contract terms, and serving as an advisor or advocate. Most associate attorneys work at law firms or government agencies, supervised by more experienced personnel. Among the duties of an associate attorney includes conducting extensive research on every case, presenting factual evidence and statements, producing the legal and necessary documentation, and representing clients in formal settings.
Patent agents and associate attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Patent Agent | Associate Attorney | |
| Average salary | $65,466 | $110,053 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $124,000 | Between $70,000 And $170,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner | Schiff Hardin |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Professional |
There are a few differences between a patent agent and an associate attorney in terms of educational background:
| Patent Agent | Associate Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Doctoral Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between patent agents' and associate attorneys' demographics:
| Patent Agent | Associate Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.5% Female, 30.5% | Male, 57.1% Female, 42.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 75.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |