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The differences between student research assistants and assistant research scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a student research assistant and an assistant research scientist. Additionally, an assistant research scientist has an average salary of $62,780, which is higher than the $27,475 average annual salary of a student research assistant.
The top three skills for a student research assistant include lab equipment, student research and data collection. The most important skills for an assistant research scientist are research projects, data collection, and data analysis.
| Student Research Assistant | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $27,475 | $62,780 |
| Hourly rate | $13.21 | $30.18 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 59,758 | 88,786 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A student research assistant is responsible for supporting the school's research department on conducting various research tasks using the techniques and resources provided by the supervising faculty. Student research assistants collect and verify research data, interpret and document findings using research methodologies, organize and prepare research materials, write research reports, and provide recommendations to improve research strategies and techniques. A student research assistant must have excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as the ability to multitask and be a fast-learner to interpret data within a specific time.
An Assistant Research Scientist assists in planning, conducting, and analyzing various research projects. They also order and manage lab inventory, materials, and equipment.
Student research assistants and assistant research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Student Research Assistant | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $27,475 | $62,780 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $37,000 | Between $43,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fairbanks, AK | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | University of California | |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a student research assistant and an assistant research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Student Research Assistant | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between student research assistants' and assistant research scientists' demographics:
| Student Research Assistant | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.1% Female, 55.9% | Male, 55.6% Female, 44.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 16.7% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 16.7% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |