Research assistant demographics and statistics in the US
Research assistant demographics research summary. Zippia estimates research assistant demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our research assistant estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about research assistants after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 191,965 research assistants currently employed in the United States.
- 53.7% of all research assistants are women, while 46.3% are men.
- The average research assistant age is 37 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of research assistants is White (52.1%), followed by Asian (16.9%), Hispanic or Latino (15.4%) and Black or African American (8.6%).
- Research assistants are most in-demand in Boston, MA.
- The health care industry is the highest-paying for research assistants.
- 8% of all research assistants are LGBT.
On this page
Research assistant demographics by:
Research assistant gender statistics
53.7% of research assistants are women and 46.3% of research assistants are men.
- Female, 53.7%
- Male, 46.3%
Research assistant gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 53.7% |
| Male | 46.3% |
Research assistant gender pay gap
Women earn 95¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$46,648
Female income
$44,465
Research assistant gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in research assistant positions over time. Currently, 53.7% of research assistants are female.
Research assistant gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 51.13% | 48.87% |
| 2011 | 48.15% | 51.85% |
| 2012 | 47.62% | 52.38% |
| 2013 | 51.42% | 48.58% |
| 2014 | 49.08% | 50.92% |
| 2015 | 49.10% | 50.90% |
| 2016 | 48.47% | 51.53% |
| 2017 | 49.88% | 50.12% |
| 2018 | 50.27% | 49.73% |
| 2019 | 45.01% | 54.99% |
| 2020 | 48.01% | 51.99% |
| 2021 | 46.28% | 53.72% |
Research assistant related jobs gender ratio
We compared research assistants with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, precision crop manager and chemical compounder have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Feed Research Aide | 13% | 87% |
| Taste Tester | 15% | 85% |
| Formula Technician | 27% | 73% |
| Research Assistant | 46% | 54% |
| Hot Cell Technician | 97% | 3% |
| Chemical Compounder | 98% | 2% |
| Precision Crop Manager | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Research assistant demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among research assistants is White, which makes up 52.1% of all research assistants. Comparatively, 16.9% of research assistants are Asian and 15.4% of research assistants are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 52.1%
- Asian, 16.9%
- Hispanic or Latino, 15.4%
- Black or African American, 8.6%
- Unknown, 6.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
Research assistant race
| Research assistant race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 52.1% |
| Asian | 16.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 15.4% |
| Black or African American | 8.6% |
| Unknown | 6.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.0% |
Research assistant race and ethnicity over time
See how research assistant racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Research assistant race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 62.87% | 6.85% | 15.04% | 11.37% |
| 2011 | 59.96% | 8.62% | 16.46% | 10.64% |
| 2012 | 61.68% | 7.70% | 16.42% | 10.19% |
| 2013 | 59.54% | 8.43% | 16.51% | 11.52% |
| 2014 | 59.71% | 8.29% | 16.77% | 11.24% |
| 2015 | 58.35% | 8.10% | 16.38% | 12.91% |
| 2016 | 58.88% | 8.69% | 16.45% | 12.15% |
| 2017 | 56.65% | 7.35% | 17.02% | 14.39% |
| 2018 | 57.41% | 7.04% | 17.99% | 13.12% |
| 2019 | 58.81% | 6.73% | 16.57% | 13.30% |
| 2020 | 54.54% | 8.90% | 17.07% | 12.53% |
| 2021 | 52.08% | 8.62% | 16.88% | 15.36% |
Research assistant wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown research assistants have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian research assistants have the lowest average salary at $46,095.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $47,764 |
| White | $46,578 |
| Black or African American | $46,102 |
| Asian | $46,095 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $46,722 |
Average research assistant age
See how the average age of research assistants varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Research assistant age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 35.5 | 38.5 |
| Unknown | 35 | 34 |
| Asian | 30 | 29 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 33 | 33 |
| White | 37 | 35 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 39 |
Research assistant age breakdown
The average age of research assistants is 40+ years years old, representing 40% of the research assistant population.
Research assistant age breakdown
| Research Assistant Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 40% |
| 30-40 years | 26% |
| 20-30 years | 33% |
Research assistant educational attainment
The most common degree for research assistants is bachelor's degree, with 74% of research assistants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 14% and master's degree degree at 4%.
- Bachelor's, 74%
- Master's, 14%
- Associate, 4%
- Doctorate, 4%
- Other Degrees, 4%
Research assistants by degree level
| Research assistant degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 74% |
| Master's | 14% |
| Associate | 4% |
| Doctorate | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 4% |
Research assistant jobs you might like
Research assistant wage gap by degree level
According to the data, research assistants with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $50,170 annually. With a Associate degree, research assistants earn a median annual income of $45,361 compared to $43,395 for research assistants with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $50,170 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $41,635 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $43,395 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $45,361 |
Research assistant employment statistics
Most research assistants work for a education in the education industry.
Company size where research assistants work
Below, you can see the size of companies where research assistants work.
Research assistant jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 3% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 9% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 11% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 55% |
| > 10,000 employees | 14% |
Research assistant jobs by company type
Employees with the research assistant job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most research assistants prefer to work at education companies over private companies.
Research assistant jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 84% |
| Public | 2% |
| Private | 11% |
| Government | 3% |
Research assistant jobs by industry
The most common industries for research assistants are education, health care and manufacturing.
Research assistant industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 76% |
| Health Care | 7% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Professional | 3% |
| Government | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
Research assistant turnover and employment statistics
Research assistant unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for research assistants between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Research assistant unemployment rate by year
| Year | Research assistant unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.78% |
| 2011 | 6.41% |
| 2012 | 6.49% |
| 2013 | 6.74% |
| 2014 | 6.13% |
| 2015 | 4.16% |
| 2016 | 4.16% |
| 2017 | 4.43% |
| 2018 | 4.24% |
| 2019 | 3.68% |
| 2020 | 3.86% |
| 2021 | 4.42% |
Average research assistant tenure
The average research assistant stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 300,061 research assistants resumes in Zippia's database.
Research assistant tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 42% |
| 1-2 years | 34% |
| 3-4 years | 9% |
| 5-7 years | 10% |
| 8-10 years | 3% |
| 11+ years | 3% |
Research assistant LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of research assistants that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Biotechnologist | 5.71% | 10,862 |
| Seed Laboratory Assistant | 7.88% | 38,757 |
| Research Assistant | 8.16% | - |
| Colorist Formulator | 9.49% | 69 |
Similar research assistant jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Biotechnologist | 5.71% | 10,862 |
| Seed Laboratory Assistant | 7.88% | 38,757 |
| Colorist Formulator | 9.49% | 69 |
Foreign languages spoken by research assistants
The most common foreign language among research assistants is Spanish at 36.8%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 12.2% and Chinese is the third-most popular at 10.5%.
- Spanish, 36.8%
- French, 12.2%
- Chinese, 10.5%
- Mandarin, 8.8%
- German, 4.4%
- Other, 27.3%
Research assistant languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 36.8% |
| French | 12.2% |
| Chinese | 10.5% |
| Mandarin | 8.8% |
| German | 4.4% |
| Other | 27.3% |
