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The differences between research assistants and research laboratory technicians 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 laboratory technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a research assistant has an average salary of $42,896, which is higher than the $38,308 average annual salary of a research laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a research assistant include patients, lab equipment and data collection. The most important skills for a research laboratory technician are patients, chemistry, and laboratory equipment.
| Research Assistant | Research Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $42,896 | $38,308 |
| Hourly rate | $20.62 | $18.42 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 51,080 | 86,476 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
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.
Research laboratory technicians play a vital role in scientific laboratories. They perform varied duties and responsibilities, which include setting up, operating, and maintaining the laboratory equipment, assisting in laboratory-based research activities such as sampling, testing, and analyzing results, and providing technical support to the laboratory team members. In addition, they are expected to support the development and advancement of science and modern medicine. Other typical duties of research laboratory technicians include preparing samples and specimens, keeping abreast with current technical developments, and ensuring strict compliance with safety procedures.
Research assistants and research laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Assistant | Research Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $42,896 | $38,308 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $64,000 | Between $30,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | New Brunswick, NJ | Chicago, IL |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Illinois |
| Best paying company | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | Accenture |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a research assistant and a research laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Research Assistant | Research Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Biology |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between research assistants' and research laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Research Assistant | Research Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.3% Female, 53.7% | Male, 49.0% Female, 51.0% |
| 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, 12.3% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 15.7% White, 49.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |