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The differences between researchers and research laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a researcher and a research laboratory technician. Additionally, a researcher has an average salary of $67,145, which is higher than the $38,308 average annual salary of a research laboratory technician.
The top three skills for a researcher include python, lab equipment and C++. The most important skills for a research laboratory technician are patients, chemistry, and laboratory equipment.
| Researcher | Research Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $67,145 | $38,308 |
| Hourly rate | $32.28 | $18.42 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 30,498 | 86,476 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A researcher is responsible for collating, organizing, and verifying necessary information for a specific subject. Researchers' duties include analyzing data, gathering and comparing resources, ensuring facts, sharing findings with the whole research team, adhering to required methodologies, performing fieldwork as needed, and keeping critical information confidential. Researchers must be knowledgeable about the current market trends and align findings with the research goals. A researcher must show strong communication skills, as well as strong attention to detail and time-management skills to meet deadlines under minimal supervision.
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.
Researchers and research laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Researcher | Research Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $67,145 | $38,308 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $119,000 | Between $30,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Chicago, IL |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Illinois |
| Best paying company | Renaissance Learning | Accenture |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a researcher and a research laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Researcher | Research Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between researchers' and research laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Researcher | Research Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1% | Male, 49.0% Female, 51.0% |
| 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, 12.3% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 15.7% White, 49.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |