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The differences between analytical chemists and laboratory chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a laboratory chemist has an average salary of $62,702, which is higher than the $61,573 average annual salary of an analytical chemist.
The top three skills for an analytical chemist include method development, HPLC and laboratory equipment. The most important skills for a laboratory chemist are lab equipment, chromatography, and analytical methods.
| Analytical Chemist | Laboratory Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $61,573 | $62,702 |
| Hourly rate | $29.60 | $30.15 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 14,661 | 41,322 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
An Analytical Chemist uses a wide range of methods to investigate the chemical nature of substances. They analyze samples using different software, techniques, and equipment, and then interpret and report the results.
Laboratory Chemists are licensed scientists who work with chemicals. They are usually found in academic institutions or research facilities. Laboratory Chemists create experiments based on the needs of the institution or company. They mix different chemicals to make the desired results. They would also analyze compounds borne out of the different mixtures and record their observations. They tabulate the results and present these to the body. Laboratory Chemists should have good organization skills. They should be able to document their experiments properly. This would help the company and future researchers.
Analytical chemists and laboratory chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Analytical Chemist | Laboratory Chemist | |
| Average salary | $61,573 | $62,702 |
| Salary range | Between $44,000 And $84,000 | Between $45,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Milford, MA | Nutley, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Micron Technology | BASF |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an analytical chemist and a laboratory chemist in terms of educational background:
| Analytical Chemist | Laboratory Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between analytical chemists' and laboratory chemists' demographics:
| Analytical Chemist | Laboratory Chemist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.6% Female, 40.4% | Male, 63.9% Female, 36.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 19.2% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 18.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |