Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between patent agents and attorneys at law 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 attorney at law. Additionally, an attorney at law has an average salary of $108,018, 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 attorney at law are litigation, law firm, and legal research.
| Patent Agent | Attorney At Law | |
| Yearly salary | $65,466 | $108,018 |
| Hourly rate | $31.47 | $51.93 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 25,562 | 7,025 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Doctoral Degree, 52% |
| 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 Attorney at Law is responsible for preparing and examining contracts involving leases, licenses, purchases, sales, etc. They advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, or legal rights and obligations.
Patent agents and attorneys at law have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Patent Agent | Attorney At Law | |
| Average salary | $65,466 | $108,018 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $124,000 | Between $69,000 And $166,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner | White and Williams |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Retail |
There are a few differences between a patent agent and an attorney at law in terms of educational background:
| Patent Agent | Attorney At Law | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Doctoral Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between patent agents' and attorneys at law' demographics:
| Patent Agent | Attorney At Law | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.5% Female, 30.5% | Male, 54.6% Female, 45.4% |
| 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% |