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The differences between teaching & research assistants and postdoctoral research associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a postdoctoral research associate has an average salary of $52,785, which is higher than the $36,796 average annual salary of a teaching & research assistant.
The top three skills for a teaching & research assistant include lab reports, laboratory sessions and organic chemistry. The most important skills for a postdoctoral research associate are python, research projects, and chemistry.
| Teaching & Research Assistant | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $36,796 | $52,785 |
| Hourly rate | $17.69 | $25.38 |
| Growth rate | - | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 48,936 | 59,377 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
The job of teaching and research assistants is to support faculty members in course material preparation and instruction. They often work in educational institutions such as universities and colleges. They perform varied duties and responsibilities that may include organizing visual aids and reference materials, conducting discussion groups, laboratory sessions, and seminars, and grading term papers, exams, and laboratory reports. Teaching and research assistants may also teach sections, conduct tutorials, and assist in overseeing study projects. The skills and qualifications required for this role may include being enrolled in a doctoral or master's study program and excellent communication skills.
A postdoctoral research associate is responsible for assisting the educational institution's research department, writing research reports, analyzing research methods, and collecting information and related studies to support the research claims. Postdoctoral research associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, reporting research updates to the research head, performing adjustments as needed, and gaining more expertise on the subject by brainstorming and discussing strategic procedures for the study. They may also conduct field investigation or coordinate with other institutions for additional reference, depending on the research's scope and limitation.
Teaching & research assistants and postdoctoral research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Teaching & Research Assistant | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $36,796 | $52,785 |
| Salary range | Between $20,000 And $64,000 | Between $38,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Memphis, TN |
| Highest paying state | - | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | Argonne National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between a teaching & research assistant and a postdoctoral research associate in terms of educational background:
| Teaching & Research Assistant | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between teaching & research assistants' and postdoctoral research associates' demographics:
| Teaching & Research Assistant | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.0% Female, 44.0% | Male, 65.7% Female, 34.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 11.6% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 38.1% White, 43.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |