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The differences between professional research assistants and research scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a professional research assistant, becoming a research scientist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, which is higher than the $58,202 average annual salary of a professional research assistant.
The top three skills for a professional research assistant include research projects, data collection and patients. The most important skills for a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Professional Research Assistant | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $58,202 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $27.98 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 91,813 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 38 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A professional research assistant works under the supervision of primary researchers leading research projects. Research assistants help the main researchers in different tasks supporting research activities. These tasks vary based on research conducted and their field. The assistants prepare the interview questions and provide a results summary. They respond to emails, participate in project meetings, and prepare progress reports. Skills necessary for this job include communication skills, critical thinking, attention to detail, scheduling, and planning.
The job of research scientists is to design, undertake, and analyze information from experiments, trials, and laboratory-based investigations. They usually perform experiments in different areas, including medical research, pharmacology, and geoscience. They have varied duties and responsibilities that include planning and carrying out experiments, conducting fieldwork, and overseeing junior staff members like the technicians. They are typically working for a government laboratory, an environmental agency, and other organizations. Many of these scientists also work in teams and support staff.
Professional research assistants and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Professional Research Assistant | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $58,202 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $88,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Siemens | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a professional research assistant and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Professional Research Assistant | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between professional research assistants' and research scientists' demographics:
| Professional Research Assistant | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 38 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.1% Female, 63.9% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 29.6% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |