Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between research laboratory managers and postdoctoral research associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a research laboratory manager and a postdoctoral research associate. Additionally, a research laboratory manager has an average salary of $64,333, which is higher than the $52,785 average annual salary of a postdoctoral research associate.
The top three skills for a research laboratory manager include lab equipment, research projects and lab safety. The most important skills for a postdoctoral research associate are python, research projects, and chemistry.
| Research Laboratory Manager | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $64,333 | $52,785 |
| Hourly rate | $30.93 | $25.38 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 89,981 | 59,377 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Research laboratory managers are management professionals who are responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of laboratories by implementing safety lab procedures. These managers are required to coordinate the repair and maintenance of lab equipment while training lab technicians and assistants on the correct use of equipment. They must perform experimental studies and analyze the research data collected for research projects. Research laboratory managers must also manage the inventory of laboratory equipment while coordinating the purchase of lab supplies.
A postdoctoral research associate is responsible for assisting the educational institution's research department, writing research reports, analyzing research methods, and collecting information and related studies to support the research claims. Postdoctoral research associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, reporting research updates to the research head, performing adjustments as needed, and gaining more expertise on the subject by brainstorming and discussing strategic procedures for the study. They may also conduct field investigation or coordinate with other institutions for additional reference, depending on the research's scope and limitation.
Research laboratory managers and postdoctoral research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Laboratory Manager | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $64,333 | $52,785 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $91,000 | Between $38,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Memphis, TN |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Meta | Argonne National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Professional |
There are a few differences between a research laboratory manager and a postdoctoral research associate in terms of educational background:
| Research Laboratory Manager | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between research laboratory managers' and postdoctoral research associates' demographics:
| Research Laboratory Manager | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.2% Female, 54.8% | Male, 65.7% Female, 34.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 38.1% White, 43.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |