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The differences between research assistant professors and professional research assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a research assistant professor and a professional research assistant. Additionally, a research assistant professor has an average salary of $73,455, which is higher than the $58,202 average annual salary of a professional research assistant.
The top three skills for a research assistant professor include research projects, biomedical and research program. The most important skills for a professional research assistant are research projects, data collection, and patients.
| Research Assistant Professor | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $73,455 | $58,202 |
| Hourly rate | $35.31 | $27.98 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 62,395 | 91,813 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A research assistant professor works part-time at colleges or universities where they focus on conducting research and extensive studies. They typically work under the supervision and directives of a professor and perform support tasks such as gathering and analyzing samples through different scientific procedures, completing interviews and surveys, performing experiments and assessments, maintaining records, and handling calls and other forms of correspondence. Additionally, a research assistant professor may also teach undergraduates and participate in preparing activities and curriculum materials.
A professional research assistant works under the supervision of primary researchers leading research projects. Research assistants help the main researchers in different tasks supporting research activities. These tasks vary based on research conducted and their field. The assistants prepare the interview questions and provide a results summary. They respond to emails, participate in project meetings, and prepare progress reports. Skills necessary for this job include communication skills, critical thinking, attention to detail, scheduling, and planning.
Research assistant professors and professional research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Assistant Professor | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $73,455 | $58,202 |
| Salary range | Between $52,000 And $102,000 | Between $38,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Stanford University | Siemens |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a research assistant professor and a professional research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Research Assistant Professor | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Biology |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between research assistant professors' and professional research assistants' demographics:
| Research Assistant Professor | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.9% Female, 37.1% | Male, 36.1% Female, 63.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 16.7% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |