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The differences between social research assistants and laboratory research assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a social research assistant and a laboratory research assistant. Additionally, a social research assistant has an average salary of $52,089, which is higher than the $36,537 average annual salary of a laboratory research assistant.
The top three skills for a social research assistant include social work, data entry and SPSS. The most important skills for a laboratory research assistant are data collection, patients, and laboratory equipment.
| Social Research Assistant | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $52,089 | $36,537 |
| Hourly rate | $25.04 | $17.57 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 74,385 | 87,343 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Social Research Assistants are responsible for providing support to social scientists in the area of surveys, laboratory work, and other related social research. Their duties include editing and submitting research documentation, acquiring research subjects' consent, preparing reports, managing databases, designing survey instruments, filter subject suitability, track participant's progress, manage laboratory resources and conduct data entry work. They also assist in research findings presentation, administer surveys, collect specimens, perform statistical analyses, supervise standardized testing, manage scheduling and recruitment of participants, and participate in basic researching.
A laboratory research assistant is an individual who performs lab experiments and carries out projects designed by senior lab staff members. Laboratory research assistants design and conduct experiments using biohazards and other dangerous materials to gain information and test scientific processes. They must write detailed reports of their research and experiments and then deliver these reports in written and verbal forms. Laboratory research assistants may also work in different settings such as medical facilities and pharmaceutical companies.
Social research assistants and laboratory research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Social Research Assistant | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $52,089 | $36,537 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $83,000 | Between $24,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | New York University | New York University |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a social research assistant and a laboratory research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Social Research Assistant | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between social research assistants' and laboratory research assistants' demographics:
| Social Research Assistant | Laboratory Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.6% Female, 67.4% | Male, 46.2% Female, 53.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 11.3% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 16.6% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |