Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between research laboratory managers and senior research associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a research laboratory manager, becoming a senior research associate takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior research associate has an average salary of $72,618, which is higher than the $64,333 average annual salary of a research laboratory manager.
The top three skills for a research laboratory manager include lab equipment, research projects and lab safety. The most important skills for a senior research associate are patients, data analysis, and CRISPR.
| Research Laboratory Manager | Senior Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $64,333 | $72,618 |
| Hourly rate | $30.93 | $34.91 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 89,981 | 58,903 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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 Senior Research Associate works closely with research team members to implement research ideas. They diagnose, solve system/software problems, and install application software according to research needs.
Research laboratory managers and senior research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Laboratory Manager | Senior Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $64,333 | $72,618 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $91,000 | Between $51,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between a research laboratory manager and a senior research associate in terms of educational background:
| Research Laboratory Manager | Senior Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between research laboratory managers' and senior research associates' demographics:
| Research Laboratory Manager | Senior Research Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.2% Female, 54.8% | Male, 53.6% Female, 46.4% |
| 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, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 13.4% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |