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The differences between patent analysts and contract 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 analyst and a contract attorney. Additionally, a contract attorney has an average salary of $97,474, which is higher than the $77,926 average annual salary of a patent analyst.
The top three skills for a patent analyst include search reports, technical aspects and medical devices. The most important skills for a contract attorney are litigation, e-discovery, and legal research.
| Patent Analyst | Contract Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $77,926 | $97,474 |
| Hourly rate | $37.46 | $46.86 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 328 | 13,592 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Doctoral Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Being a patent analyst involves comparing products that are already in the market to new inventions and innovations. You will be responsible for ensuring and upholding government assurance of the originality and ownership of an invention. Patent analysis involves the examination of every aspect of an invention, including the blueprints, the pieces, the assembly, the raw material used, and etc. The role requires the evaluation of uses and specifications of an invention, classification, and then a written report based on the analysis.
A contract attorney is responsible for handling their clients' legal issues and settling cases by researching, analyzing, and collecting essential files that would support the clients' claims. Contract attorneys usually work for private clients without being permanently employed in a law firm or government agency. Contract attorneys represent clients at court, assist with law proceedings, and advise clients for the necessary legal procedures. A contract attorney must have excellent communication and critical-thinking skills to manage client legal matters and expertise in traditional disciplines and processes.
Patent analysts and contract attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Patent Analyst | Contract Attorney | |
| Average salary | $77,926 | $97,474 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $129,000 | Between $60,000 And $158,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Ramon, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Morrison & Foerster | Perkins Coie |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a patent analyst and a contract attorney in terms of educational background:
| Patent Analyst | Contract Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Doctoral Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between patent analysts' and contract attorneys' demographics:
| Patent Analyst | Contract Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.6% Female, 28.4% | Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 75.8% 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, 75.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |