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The differences between postdoc research associates and assistant research scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a postdoc research associate, becoming an assistant research scientist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an assistant research scientist has an average salary of $62,780, which is higher than the $56,259 average annual salary of a postdoc research associate.
The top three skills for a postdoc research associate include data analysis, mouse model and research projects. The most important skills for an assistant research scientist are research projects, data collection, and data analysis.
| Postdoc Research Associate | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $56,259 | $62,780 |
| Hourly rate | $27.05 | $30.18 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 49,460 | 88,786 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 41 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
Postdoc research associates are professionals who are responsible for assisting postdoctoral researchers in their research after completing doctoral studies. These associates must train and mentor undergraduate and graduate students with their ongoing research projects so that they can be completed on time. They are required to perform data analysis and should prepare scientific and technical reports that will be presented at scientific conferences. Postdoc research associates must also conduct literature reviews on topics such as government policy, economic impact analyses, and scientific journal articles.
An Assistant Research Scientist assists in planning, conducting, and analyzing various research projects. They also order and manage lab inventory, materials, and equipment.
Postdoc research associates and assistant research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Postdoc Research Associate | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $56,259 | $62,780 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $78,000 | Between $43,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sunnyvale, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | IBM | University of California |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Education |
There are a few differences between a postdoc research associate and an assistant research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Postdoc Research Associate | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between postdoc research associates' and assistant research scientists' demographics:
| Postdoc Research Associate | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.1% Female, 26.9% | Male, 55.6% Female, 44.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Asian, 45.4% White, 38.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 16.7% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |