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The differences between research technicians and research scientists 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 technician and a research scientist. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, 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 scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Research Technician | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $43,034 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $20.69 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 64,786 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
The job of research scientists is to design, undertake, and analyze information from experiments, trials, and laboratory-based investigations. They usually perform experiments in different areas, including medical research, pharmacology, and geoscience. They have varied duties and responsibilities that include planning and carrying out experiments, conducting fieldwork, and overseeing junior staff members like the technicians. They are typically working for a government laboratory, an environmental agency, and other organizations. Many of these scientists also work in teams and support staff.
Research technicians and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Technician | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $43,034 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $59,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Pasadena, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | GCP Applied Technologies | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a research technician and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Research Technician | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between research technicians' and research scientists' demographics:
| Research Technician | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.3% Female, 50.7% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 29.6% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |