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The differences between associate principal scientists and medical science liaisons can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an associate principal scientist and a medical science liaison. Additionally, a medical science liaison has an average salary of $145,718, which is higher than the $112,297 average annual salary of an associate principal scientist.
The top three skills for an associate principal scientist include data analysis, chemistry and project management. The most important skills for a medical science liaison are patients, medical affairs, and MSL.
| Associate Principal Scientist | Medical Science Liaison | |
| Yearly salary | $112,297 | $145,718 |
| Hourly rate | $53.99 | $70.06 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 82,048 | 57,208 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Associate Principal Scientists are responsible for directing the operations of scientific research.They work with cross-functional teams in elaborating technical specifications, and they provide training and mentorship to staff. An associate principal scientist maintains clients' and projects' confidentiality and learns proactively to keep abreast of technological advancements.Other duties may include resolving conflicts within and between departments, monitoring project timeline and performance, supervising laboratory work, and ensuring accurate scientific report documentation.
A medical science liaison (MSL) is a scientific professional who facilitates a working relationship between healthcare companies and leading physicians, researchers, and clinicians. Also referred to as key opinion leaders (KOL), medical science liaisons represent their company to the decision-makers in the medical community as well as to investors and government regulatory agencies. They analyze clinical trends and monitor the scientific literature for new developments in the medical community. Medical science liaisons also prepare medical samples and data to investigate the causes of chronic diseases, pathogens, and toxicity.
Associate principal scientists and medical science liaisons have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Principal Scientist | Medical Science Liaison | |
| Average salary | $112,297 | $145,718 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $160,000 | Between $59,000 And $359,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Jackson, TN |
| Highest paying state | California | Tennessee |
| Best paying company | Schrödinger | Saint Luke's Health System |
| Best paying industry | Government | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an associate principal scientist and a medical science liaison in terms of educational background:
| Associate Principal Scientist | Medical Science Liaison | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between associate principal scientists' and medical science liaisons' demographics:
| Associate Principal Scientist | Medical Science Liaison | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.1% Female, 35.9% | Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 27.1% White, 52.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 23.4% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |