Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between research laboratory technicians and professional research assistants 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 technician, becoming a professional research assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a professional research assistant has an average salary of $58,202, which is higher than the $38,308 average annual salary of a research laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a research laboratory technician include patients, chemistry and laboratory equipment. The most important skills for a professional research assistant are research projects, data collection, and patients.
| Research Laboratory Technician | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $38,308 | $58,202 |
| Hourly rate | $18.42 | $27.98 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 86,476 | 91,813 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
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 laboratory technicians and professional research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Laboratory Technician | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $38,308 | $58,202 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $48,000 | Between $38,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chicago, IL | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Illinois | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Accenture | Siemens |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a research laboratory technician and a professional research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Research Laboratory Technician | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between research laboratory technicians' and professional research assistants' demographics:
| Research Laboratory Technician | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.0% Female, 51.0% | Male, 36.1% Female, 63.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 6% | 8% |