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The differences between research assistants and medical research assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a research assistant, becoming a medical research assistant takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a research assistant has an average salary of $42,896, which is higher than the $40,303 average annual salary of a medical research assistant.
The top three skills for a research assistant include patients, lab equipment and data collection. The most important skills for a medical research assistant are patients, patient care, and DR.
| Research Assistant | Medical Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $42,896 | $40,303 |
| Hourly rate | $20.62 | $19.38 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 51,080 | 125,533 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 38 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
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.
A medical research assistant is primarily in charge of performing support tasks in a laboratory or similar environment. Their responsibilities include gathering and organizing samples, preparing the laboratories and other facilities, compiling and managing data, updating databases, and conducting examinations and analysis, all while adhering to the laboratory's policies and regulations. They may also liaise with clients, answering inquiries as necessary. Furthermore, it is vital to maintain an active line with researchers, coordinating with them every step of the way to ensure an efficient workflow.
Research assistants and medical research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Assistant | Medical Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $42,896 | $40,303 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $64,000 | Between $25,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Brunswick, NJ | Worcester, MA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | Norton Rose Fulbright |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Education |
There are a few differences between a research assistant and a medical research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Research Assistant | Medical Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | Harvard University | - |
Here are the differences between research assistants' and medical research assistants' demographics:
| Research Assistant | Medical Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 38 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.3% Female, 53.7% | Male, 19.0% Female, 81.0% |
| 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, 10.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 24.3% Asian, 9.7% White, 50.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |