Postdoc research associate vs doctoral research assistant

The differences between postdoc research associates and doctoral research assistants 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 a doctoral research assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a doctoral research assistant has an average salary of $56,458, 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 a doctoral research assistant are data collection, research projects, and PI.

Postdoc research associate vs doctoral research assistant overview

	Postdoc Research Associate	Doctoral Research Assistant
Yearly salary	$56,259	$56,458
Hourly rate	$27.05	$27.14
Growth rate	17%	17%
Number of jobs	49,460	53,091
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Doctoral Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	41	38
Years of experience	4	2

Postdoc research associate vs doctoral research assistant salary

Postdoc research associates and doctoral research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Postdoc Research Associate	Doctoral Research Assistant
Average salary	$56,259	$56,458
Salary range	Between $40,000 And $78,000	Between $41,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City	Sunnyvale, CA	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	Hawaii	Massachusetts
Best paying company	IBM	Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Best paying industry	Professional	Education

Differences between postdoc research associate and doctoral research assistant education

There are a few differences between a postdoc research associate and a doctoral research assistant in terms of educational background:

	Postdoc Research Associate	Doctoral Research Assistant
Most common degree	Doctoral Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Chemistry	Chemistry
Most common college	Duke University	Harvard University

Postdoc research associate vs doctoral research assistant demographics

Here are the differences between postdoc research associates' and doctoral research assistants' demographics:

	Postdoc Research Associate	Doctoral Research Assistant
Average age	41	38
Gender ratio	Male, 73.1% Female, 26.9%	Male, 53.1% Female, 46.9%
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, 16.8% White, 52.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between postdoc research associate and doctoral research assistant duties and responsibilities

Postdoc research associate example responsibilities.

Achieve a best solar-matching spectrum and a broadband visible-to-IR absorption profile.
Process and manage GIS databases to contribute towards research in human transportation behavior.
Research focuse on understanding how transcription factors and non-coding regulatory DNA interpret Endothelin signaling in vivo.
Programe in Fortran to simulate models, diagnose problems and examine results.
Investigate how ATM kinase regulates tumor suppressive function of B56? -PP2A in response to DNA damage.
Complete a project of conditional knock out mouse model, draft one manuscript on transcription factor function on brain developmental defect.

Doctoral research assistant example responsibilities.

Process and manage GIS databases to contribute towards research in human transportation behavior.
Receive additional training in SAS.
Used electronic and structure evaluations using quantum chemistry packages such as GAUSSIAN.
Prepare and implement unique proposals for the synthesis of polymer and small molecule targets.
Discover novel mechanical functions for collagen and short DNA molecules in response to force.
Develop the use of FPLC for detection and characterization of large DNA structural motifs.

Postdoc research associate vs doctoral research assistant skills

Common postdoc research associate skills

Data Analysis, 9%
Mouse Model, 8%
Research Projects, 8%
Python, 7%
Chemistry, 7%
Cell Culture, 6%

Common doctoral research assistant skills

Data Collection, 12%
Research Projects, 11%
PI, 9%
Data Analysis, 6%
Molecular Biology, 5%
Cell Culture, 5%

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Postdoc Research Associate
Postdoc Research Associate vs Doctoral Research Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

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