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The differences between patent attorneys and patent agents 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 attorney and a patent agent. Additionally, a patent attorney has an average salary of $86,919, which is higher than the $65,466 average annual salary of a patent agent.
The top three skills for a patent attorney include electrical engineering, USPTO and law firm. The most important skills for a patent agent are intellectual property, patent prosecution, and law firm.
| Patent Attorney | Patent Agent | |
| Yearly salary | $86,919 | $65,466 |
| Hourly rate | $41.79 | $31.47 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 7,889 | 25,562 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A patent attorney is an intellectual property expert whose responsibilities revolve around assisting and representing clients on patent application procedures. A patent attorney must meet with clients to identify their needs, provide advice when it comes to trademarks and trade secrets, discuss and interpret complex subjects such as regulations and laws, and secure rights and properties. Furthermore, as a patent attorney, it is essential to review and negotiate contracts and proposals to avoid disputes in the future.
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.
Patent attorneys and patent agents have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Patent Attorney | Patent Agent | |
| Average salary | $86,919 | $65,466 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $152,000 | Between $34,000 And $124,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New York |
| Best paying company | Goodwin | Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Professional |
There are a few differences between a patent attorney and a patent agent in terms of educational background:
| Patent Attorney | Patent Agent | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Law | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between patent attorneys' and patent agents' demographics:
| Patent Attorney | Patent Agent | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% | Male, 69.5% Female, 30.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 75.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |