Volunteer research assistant vs laboratory research assistant

The differences between volunteer 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 volunteer research assistant and a laboratory research assistant. Additionally, a volunteer research assistant has an average salary of $52,906, which is higher than the $36,537 average annual salary of a laboratory research assistant.

The top three skills for a volunteer research assistant include lab equipment, DR and literature reviews. The most important skills for a laboratory research assistant are data collection, patients, and laboratory equipment.

Volunteer research assistant vs laboratory research assistant overview

	Volunteer Research Assistant	Laboratory Research Assistant
Yearly salary	$52,906	$36,537
Hourly rate	$25.44	$17.57
Growth rate	19%	17%
Number of jobs	50,983	87,343
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 75%	Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	2	2

Volunteer research assistant vs laboratory research assistant salary

Volunteer research assistants and laboratory research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Volunteer Research Assistant	Laboratory Research Assistant
Average salary	$52,906	$36,537
Salary range	Between $34,000 And $81,000	Between $24,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	-	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	-	Massachusetts
Best paying company	-	New York University
Best paying industry	-	Education

Differences between volunteer research assistant and laboratory research assistant education

There are a few differences between a volunteer research assistant and a laboratory research assistant in terms of educational background:

	Volunteer Research Assistant	Laboratory Research Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 75%	Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common major	Psychology	Biology
Most common college	Harvard University	Harvard University

Volunteer research assistant vs laboratory research assistant demographics

Here are the differences between volunteer research assistants' and laboratory research assistants' demographics:

	Volunteer Research Assistant	Laboratory Research Assistant
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 39.3% Female, 60.7%	Male, 46.2% Female, 53.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 16.4% White, 53.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	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%

Differences between volunteer research assistant and laboratory research assistant duties and responsibilities

Volunteer research assistant example responsibilities.

Evaluate patients' study eligibility via medical history, obtain informed consent, enroll patients, and achieve enrollment quotas.
Compile subject questionnaires using SPSS data analysis software.
Perform DNA extraction and estimation.
Analyze isolated purity of RNA samples with Nanodrop machine.
Assist in procedures when need, such as isolating DNA.
Perform tissue homogenization, RNA isolation, and Qiagen RNA easy clean up.

Laboratory research assistant example responsibilities.

Manage participant records according to IRB guidelines to ensure confidentiality.
Lead experiments to assess survivor behavior differences in zebrafish contaminate with dietary mercury.
Maintain microbial culture and isolate and purify bacterial and viral DNA and RNA to study the genome of common pathogenic bacteria.
Perform protein extraction on larvae.
Perform biological assays, including ELISA and RT-PCR.
Gain extensive MLST, RT-PCR, conventional PCR, primer design and gel-electrophoresis experience.

Volunteer research assistant vs laboratory research assistant skills

Common volunteer research assistant skills

Lab Equipment, 14%
DR, 12%
Literature Reviews, 7%
Data Collection, 6%
Cell Culture, 5%
Research Projects, 5%

Common laboratory research assistant skills

Data Collection, 5%
Patients, 5%
Laboratory Equipment, 5%
Lab Procedures, 5%
Laboratory Techniques, 5%
Molecular Biology, 4%

Volunteer Research Assistant vs. similar jobs

Volunteer Research Assistant related careers

Volunteer Research Assistant related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Life, Physical, and Social Science Industry
Volunteer Research Assistant
Volunteer Research Assistant vs Laboratory Research Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse life, physical, and social science jobs