Los Angeles Research Assistant Jobs Overview
You may read or hear the words "studies have shown that…" in the news. But what studies? And who is doing these studies? The engine behind research studies is often students or recent graduates with research assistant jobs. Being an RA is often a step on the path toward getting a Ph.D. and can help you decide if you want to pursue a career in academia. Private research organizations, government departments, and non-profit associations also employ research assistants.
A research assistant usually works with one professor, research fellow, or research team in an academic environment. Any field of study you can think of utilizes research assistants. The first assignment for an RA is often to write grant requests to fund the rest of the research they'll work on. After that, the main functions of a research assistant are:
- preparing lit reviews
- running trials
- collecting data
- analyzing data using statistics
- writing presentations and papers
You can expand your search for higher ed jobs by checking out these similar positions:
About Working in Los Angeles, California
The Hollywood sign stands for everything glamourous and star-studded in Los Angeles. But did you know it was built in the 1920s to advertise a new neighborhood called Hollywoodland? The "land" was eventually dropped from the sign in 1949, and it became associated with nearby Paramount Pictures, Universal, and Warner Brothers. Today, downtown L.A. is the largest government hub outside of Washington D.C. and has the largest historical theater district in the U.S. But not all Los Angeles jobs are in show business. More than 700,000 health services and biomedical jobs and 190,000 aerospace jobs stoke L.A.'s economy.
If L.A. were a country, the city's economy would be bigger than those of Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and Sweden. Los Angeles is a sprawling metropolis, engulfing five counties—Los Angeles, Riverside, Ventura, Orange, and San Bernardino. If you're looking for jobs in Los Angeles, you have a lot of choices for relocation. There are more than 80 neighborhoods in L.A. and 16 districts just in downtown. For those who want a slightly less hectic pace, you can also find jobs in L.A.'s beautiful suburbs, including Pasadena, West Covina, and Anaheim.
Update Your Los Angeles Research Assistant Resume
The first test of your writing, information-gathering, and presentation skills is your resume. Take a look at this sample resume for jobs in higher education to get started. You can download it as a free template from Monster. You'll also want to create a cover letter to accompany your resume. Here's an example cover letter we've put together specifically for research assistant positions. You can read other resume tips and advice about cover letter writing in the Monster library.
How Much Do Research Assistant Jobs Pay in Los Angeles, California?
Got money on your mind? You should! Make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. Our Salary Tools can help you understand what you can expect to make in research assistant jobs in Los Angeles, California, as well as the skills that can boost your value and what the next steps in your career might be. Right now, the median graduate research fellow pay in Los Angeles is $60,279 per year, which is 14% higher than the national average.
Find Your Next Los Angeles Research Assistant Job. Monster Can Help Get You Started
Are you prepared for a career in research assistant? If so, set up your profile on Monster for free and begin clicking on those research assistant jobs. When you sign up with us, you’ll receive custom job alerts and expert advice on how to negotiate your salary in Los Angeles, how to nail your job interview, and more.