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The differences between research assistants and research analysts 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 research analyst takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a research analyst has an average salary of $70,232, which is higher than the $42,896 average annual salary of a research assistant.
The top three skills for a research assistant include patients, lab equipment and data collection. The most important skills for a research analyst are data analysis, data collection, and research projects.
| Research Assistant | Research Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $42,896 | $70,232 |
| Hourly rate | $20.62 | $33.77 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 51,080 | 81,374 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 38 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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 research analyst is responsible for providing a company with insights and advice concerning finance, investments, and expenditures. Utilizing their analytical skills and extensive expertise in marketing, they analyze the trends and significant factors to conclude which decision should be the best to make. They can also take part in conducting an in-depth analysis of a business and examine which areas require improvement or has potential. Furthermore, they may work with a company or independently as a freelance analyst.
Research assistants and research analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Assistant | Research Analyst | |
| Average salary | $42,896 | $70,232 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $64,000 | Between $45,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Brunswick, NJ | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Finance |
There are a few differences between a research assistant and a research analyst in terms of educational background:
| Research Assistant | Research Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | Harvard University | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between research assistants' and research analysts' demographics:
| Research Assistant | Research Analyst | |
| Average age | 38 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.3% Female, 53.7% | Male, 50.8% Female, 49.2% |
| 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, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |