How long does it take to become a Research Associate?

It takes 3 years of professional experience to become a research associate. That is the time it takes to learn specific research associate skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 6 to 8 years years to become a research associate.

How many years does it take to become a research associate?

It takes four years to become a research associate. This is because most research associates are expected to have a bachelor's degree. To become a research associate, a bachelor's degree that focuses on the area that one intends to research is almost always necessary. It may also help to have proven research experience. Internships or lab positions can achieve this during the course of obtaining a bachelor's degree.

Is clinical research associate a good career?

Yes, a career as a clinical research associate is a good career path. Clinical research associates generally earn salaries that range from $50,000 per year and $120,000 per year. Clinical research associates tend to earn higher salaries depending on their work experience and education. Clinical research associates with several years of experience working in healthcare industries, such as pharmaceuticals, may earn upwards of $100,000 per year.

What is the difference between a research assistant and a research associate?

A research associate and a research assistant often perform similar duties. However, it is usually the case that a research assistant is a graduate student or is otherwise completing some education or training through their position. Research associates, though they have very similar responsibilities, usually function as normal salaries positions.

What qualifications do you need to be a researcher?

A researcher will almost always need a bachelor's degree. However, in many positions, a master's degree or another post-graduate degree may be necessary or preferred. Some positions will require as much as a doctoral degree.

What skills do you need to be a research associate?

Research associates must possess a lot of organizational skills, as well as a great deal of knowledge in their area of research. Research associates are often responsible for conducting studies, managing calendars, performing calculations, analyzing data, and generating reports.

What is a research associate and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Experts

Dr. Betsy Smith,

Daniel Patten Ph.D.

A research associate works in a laboratory or research setting, assisting in conducting experiments and collecting data. They may also be involved in writing technical reports and presenting findings. Research associates typically hold at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and have experience working in a laboratory. The role requires strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as attention to detail and the ability to work independently or as part of a team.

What general advice would you give to a Research Associate?

Dr. Betsy Smith

Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Elmira College

I would advise students just graduating to be flexible and open-minded in their job search. Chemistry is a challenging major, and students who succeed in it have learned how to learn, so they shouldn't assume that pure chemistry is the only thing they can do. One growing field is biomedical research, and chemistry majors are often qualified for jobs in that area. If you have other strengths, like writing, there are often jobs that can combine them as a technical writer or work for a science journal. There are jobs out there that might be perfect for you that you haven't heard of until you see an ad for it, so be open to different possibilities.

ScoreResearch AssociateUS Average

Salary

4.7

Avg. Salary $60,166

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

4.5

Growth Rate 17%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.03%

Asian 16.63%

Black or African American 8.54%

Hispanic or Latino 15.23%

Unknown 6.01%

White 52.57%

Gender

female 49.17%

male 50.83%

Age - 35

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 35

Stress Level

4.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.8

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

10.0

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Research Associate?

Pros

Opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research
Chance to work with renowned scientists and experts in the field
Possibility of publishing research papers
Ability to develop a diverse skillset
Opportunities for networking and professional development

Cons

Possibility of working on tedious or repetitive tasks
Limited job security with grant-based funding structures
Possibility of working with difficult or demanding colleagues or supervisors
Lack of work-life balance during busy periods
Limited opportunities for creativity or exploration outside of assigned projects.

Key steps to become a research associate

Explore research associate education requirements

Most common research associate degrees

Bachelor's

63.2 %

Master's

19.6 %

Doctorate

11.5 %

Start to develop specific research associate skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	5.91%
Research Projects	5.82%
Data Analysis	5.59%
Data Collection	5.08%
Cell Culture	5.01%

Complete relevant research associate training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New research associates learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a research associate based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real research associate resumes.

Research research associate duties and responsibilities

Study utilize online survey tools and data are managed and analyze using SPSS.
Manage databases, analyze data in STATA, and summarize relevant findings for partners.
Lead diverse research teams in the development of PCR and reverse transcriptase PCR assays for various food-borne pathogens.
Process, analyze and upload HTS data that lead to the discovery of new structural classes of small molecules.

Prepare your research associate resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your research associate resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a research associate resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Research Associate Resume templates

Build a professional Research Associate resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Research Associate resume.

Apply for research associate jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a research associate job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do research associates rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Research Associate reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Cons

The struggle of not breaking a certain research topic.

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

It's all about getting data, follow up on project, ensuring that jobs are done properly, write reports after a project is done. You travel if the job or project you're handling is out station.

Cons

Nothing really, it's just that sometimes getting data can be very difficult

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019

Cons

None

What is a research associate and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a Research Associate?

What are the pros and cons of being a Research Associate?

Research Associate career paths

Key steps to become a research associate

Explore research associate education requirements

Most common research associate degrees

Start to develop specific research associate skills

Complete relevant research associate training and internships

Research research associate duties and responsibilities

Prepare your research associate resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Research Associate Resume templates

Apply for research associate jobs

How Did You Land Your First Research Associate Job

Average research associate salary

How do research associates rate their job?

Research Associate reviews

Research Associate FAQs

How long does it take to become a Research Associate?

How many years does it take to become a research associate?

Is clinical research associate a good career?

What is the difference between a research assistant and a research associate?

What qualifications do you need to be a researcher?

What skills do you need to be a research associate?

Search for research associate jobs

Research Associate jobs by state