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The differences between student research assistants and professional 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 student research assistant and a professional research assistant. Additionally, a professional research assistant has an average salary of $58,202, 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 a professional research assistant are research projects, data collection, and patients.
| Student Research Assistant | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $27,475 | $58,202 |
| Hourly rate | $13.21 | $27.98 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 59,758 | 91,813 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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.
A professional research assistant works under the supervision of primary researchers leading research projects. Research assistants help the main researchers in different tasks supporting research activities. These tasks vary based on research conducted and their field. The assistants prepare the interview questions and provide a results summary. They respond to emails, participate in project meetings, and prepare progress reports. Skills necessary for this job include communication skills, critical thinking, attention to detail, scheduling, and planning.
Student research assistants and professional research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Student Research Assistant | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $27,475 | $58,202 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $37,000 | Between $38,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fairbanks, AK | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Siemens | |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a student research assistant and a professional research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Student Research Assistant | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between student research assistants' and professional research assistants' demographics:
| Student Research Assistant | Professional Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.1% Female, 55.9% | Male, 36.1% Female, 63.9% |
| 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, 9.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |