Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between assay development scientists and microbiologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an assay development scientist, becoming a microbiologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an assay development scientist has an average salary of $75,782, which is higher than the $54,620 average annual salary of a microbiologist.
The top three skills for an assay development scientist include assay development, cell-based assays and data analysis. The most important skills for a microbiologist are lab equipment, microbiology lab, and environmental monitoring.
| Assay Development Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Yearly salary | $75,782 | $54,620 |
| Hourly rate | $36.43 | $26.26 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 95,381 | 11,444 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
Assay development scientists are biochemical experts who develop procedures that test or measure the activity of a drug or biochemical in an organism. These scientists are required to provide technical support to develop new assays as well as assist in the transfer of assay to clinical laboratories internationally. They must collaborate with laboratory scientists and managers to optimize laboratory processes for increased efficiency and effectiveness. Assay development scientists must also produce and submit reports about the development of assays to the research & development (R&D;) managers as well as project managers.
Microbiologists are responsible for studying the microscopic organisms causing infections and environmental damage, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Their work focuses on the identification and growth of these microbes to better understand their characteristics that may help in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious and bacterial diseases. They use sophisticated technologies and machinery to study microbes and perform their tasks. These scientists are also responsible for developing best practices and techniques for routine sampling and research. Microbiologists may work in various settings, including laboratories, research institutes, and hospitals.
Assay development scientists and microbiologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assay Development Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Average salary | $75,782 | $54,620 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $113,000 | Between $39,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Genentech | Battelle |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between an assay development scientist and a microbiologist in terms of educational background:
| Assay Development Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between assay development scientists' and microbiologists' demographics:
| Assay Development Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.1% Female, 47.9% | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 29.0% White, 51.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 13.6% White, 69.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |