Research assistants take on many of the same duties as scientists, but they typically do not pursue an academic career path. It’s important that you know how to stick to a budget and understand how your career will change if you decide to work in a different field.-
A research assistant is a person who works with a researcher in conducting experiments or other scholarly work. Typically, a position as a research assistant involves doing research, collecting data and helping the primary researcher prepare reports on that data. Research assistants usually carry out their duties under the supervision of a principal investigator, or PI.
Research assistants are a low-level position in a science field who may do tasks such as research, note taking and filing. Workers should have at least some experience in the laboratory where they work, but many employers prefer candidates who have a bachelor’s degree.
Salary For Research Assistant Overview
Research assistant salary in Nigeria
According to the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), the average salary for a research assistant in Nigeria is ₦220,000 per month. This figure is based on data collected from various hospitals and other research institutions across the country. The University of Ibadan, located in Oyo State, reported that most of its research assistants earn an average of ₦250,000 monthly.
Medical research assistant salary
The average salary for a medical research assistant ranges from ₦200,000 to ₦400,000 per month depending on the state where they work and their experience level. For instance, if you work at National Hospital Abuja and have been working there for over 5 years, then your salary will range from ₦300,000 to ₦400,000 per month. If you’re just starting out and haven’t worked anywhere else before then your salary will be between ₦200,000 and ₦300,000 per month.
Clinical research assistant salary
The pay range for clinical research assistants depends on whether or not they’ve worked elsewhere before this position or not since there are many factors that affect how much compensation they’ll receive.
Research Assistant Duties & Responsibilities
The job generally requires the ability to perform the following duties:
- Carry out experiments and research according to protocols laid out by primary researchers
- Collect and log experimental data
- Conduct statistical analyses of data sets
- Prepare graphs and spreadsheets to portray results
- Create presentation slides and posters to help researchers present findings
- Review print and online resources to gather information
- Check facts, proofread, and edit research documents to ensure accuracy
- Maintain laboratory equipment and inventory
Research assistants usually work under the supervision of primary researchers who lead research projects. They’re responsible for assisting the main researcher in a number of tasks that support the research activities. Those tasks vary depending on the type of research that’s being done and the field that they’re in.
Research Assistant Salary
A research assistant’s salary can vary depending on location, experience, and employer. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides salary data for research assistants in the field of social sciences:1
- Median Annual Salary: $47,510
- Top 10% Annual Salary: $78,800
- Bottom 10% Annual Salary: $28,190
The BLS also provides salary data for biological technicians, which include research assistants in that field:2
- Median Annual Salary: $45,860
- Top 10% Annual Salary: $29,540
- Bottom 10% Annual Salary: $73,350
A Professional Research Assistant’s Salary
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| Average | $56,866 | $4,739 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
Research Assistant’s Annual Base Salary
| Job Title | Salary | Hourly Rate | Location | Date Updated |
| Laboratory Assistant II | $61,736 | $29.68 | United States | May 27, 2022 |
| Laboratory Assistant I | $50,075 | $24.07 | United States | May 27, 2022 |
| Laboratory Assistant III | $73,793 | $35.48 | United States | May 27, 2022 |
| Research and Development Engineer | $112,778 | $54.22 | United States | May 27, 2022 |
| Research and Development Director | $221,607 | $106.54 | United States | May 27, 2022 |
| Research and Development Manager | $146,091 | $70.24 | United States | May 27, 2022 |
| Top Research & Development Executive | $349,473 | $168.02 | United States | May 27, 2022 |
| Institutional Research Director – Assistant | $81,137 | $39.01 | United States | May 27, 2022 |
| Clinical Research Coordinator | $66,262 | $31.86 | United States | May 27, 2022 |
| Clinical Research Manager | $104,521 | $50.25 | United States | May 27, 2022 |
