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The differences between research professors and laboratory researchers 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 professor and a laboratory researcher. Additionally, a research professor has an average salary of $119,503, which is higher than the $27,760 average annual salary of a laboratory researcher.
The top three skills for a research professor include research projects, public health and data collection. The most important skills for a laboratory researcher are lab procedures, cell culture, and molecular biology.
| Research Professor | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Yearly salary | $119,503 | $27,760 |
| Hourly rate | $57.45 | $13.35 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 59,502 | 57,359 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Research professors lead the research culture in their departments. In some cases, they will do less undergraduate teaching and focus more on teaching post-graduates. They also teach students at higher education institutions. They focus on their research activities that include presenting research findings at conferences worldwide. They are involved in initiatives working with private sectors and other public sector bodies. Part of their duties includes marking assessed work, attending planning meetings to ensure cross-departmental parity, and doing administrative tasks within the department.
Laboratory researchers are professionals who manage a research laboratory while performing cellular and biochemical experiments with the primary researcher. These researchers must work with hazardous chemicals and should show expertise in handling lab equipment such as glassware and field equipment. They are required to assist with research projects and interpret the test data of an experiment. They must manage the order of all lab equipment by filling up the purchase requisition forms. Laboratory researchers are required to work with students in all aspects of laboratory research.
Research professors and laboratory researchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Professor | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Average salary | $119,503 | $27,760 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $212,000 | Between $17,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Pasadena, CA | New Brunswick, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Maine |
| Best paying company | New York University | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Education |
There are a few differences between a research professor and a laboratory researcher in terms of educational background:
| Research Professor | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between research professors' and laboratory researchers' demographics:
| Research Professor | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.4% Female, 37.6% | Male, 56.7% Female, 43.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |