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The differences between research technicians and research coordinators 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 technician, becoming a research coordinator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a research coordinator has an average salary of $48,974, which is higher than the $43,034 average annual salary of a research technician.
The top three skills for a research technician include patients, data collection and cell culture. The most important skills for a research coordinator are patients, informed consent, and data collection.
| Research Technician | Research Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $43,034 | $48,974 |
| Hourly rate | $20.69 | $23.55 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 64,786 | 65,406 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A research technician is responsible for assisting in research studies and laboratory experiments. Research technicians operate laboratory tools and equipment, process data for experiments, collect samples for study, analyze existing research materials, analyze experiment results, manage inventories and stock supplies, record observations, and create reports for further examination. A research technician must have strong analytical and scientific knowledge, as well as a passion for research writing and investigations crucial for this kind of industry.
A research coordinator is responsible for assisting the development of research data from clinical trials and laboratory investigations under the supervision of a lead researcher or a research supervisor. In some cases, research coordinators conduct field investigations and analyze existing research materials upon understanding the scope and limitations of the study. They enter their findings and useful resources on the research database for reference to the research team. A research coordinator must have excellent communication skills, both written and oral, especially on gathering data and coordinating with other researchers for the progress and updates of the study.
Research technicians and research coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Technician | Research Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $43,034 | $48,974 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $59,000 | Between $35,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Pasadena, CA | Bothell, WA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | GCP Applied Technologies | BNP Paribas |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a research technician and a research coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Research Technician | Research Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Biology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between research technicians' and research coordinators' demographics:
| Research Technician | Research Coordinator | |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.3% Female, 50.7% | Male, 29.1% Female, 70.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 16.5% White, 49.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 10.2% White, 64.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 9% |