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The differences between research assistants and graduate research students can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a research assistant has an average salary of $42,896, which is higher than the $34,658 average annual salary of a graduate research student.
The top three skills for a research assistant include patients, lab equipment and data collection. The most important skills for a graduate research student are lab equipment, laboratory equipment, and python.
| Research Assistant | Graduate Research Student | |
| Yearly salary | $42,896 | $34,658 |
| Hourly rate | $20.62 | $16.66 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 51,080 | 58,921 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
Research assistants give support to researchers or other professionals who need assistance as they conduct experiments, studies, or other research projects. Research assistants help in conducting experiments, surveys, or interviews under the supervision of the primary researcher. They also work on research activities such as literature reviews, collect data, assist in interpreting results, prepare designs or visuals for the presentation of the results, and even ensure that all the tools and documentation related to the study are properly organized. They also assist in fact-checking the output and ensure that the data presented are accurate. Research assistants usually possess an academic background that is related to the main research topic.
Graduate research students are learners who conduct degree program-related research in a research unit or an academic department. These students manage themselves independently as well as their work. They make certain that they have familiarized the requirements of the university. Educators and other scholars expect them to develop enough research and skills. Their responsibilities include academic honesty, participation in supervisory meetings, and maintenance of effective supervisor communication. In terms of their research, they should have a research plan ahead.
Research assistants and graduate research students have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Assistant | Graduate Research Student | |
| Average salary | $42,896 | $34,658 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $64,000 | Between $19,000 And $60,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Brunswick, NJ | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | Capgemini |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Education |
There are a few differences between a research assistant and a graduate research student in terms of educational background:
| Research Assistant | Graduate Research Student | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Biology |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between research assistants' and graduate research students' demographics:
| Research Assistant | Graduate Research Student | |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.3% Female, 53.7% | Male, 47.2% Female, 52.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 16.9% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 11.8% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |