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The differences between biochemists and chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a biochemist has an average salary of $72,910, which is higher than the $64,961 average annual salary of a chemist.
The top three skills for a biochemist include chemistry, immunoassay and elisa. The most important skills for a chemist are chemistry, lab equipment, and test results.
| Biochemist | Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $72,910 | $64,961 |
| Hourly rate | $35.05 | $31.23 |
| Growth rate | 15% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 16,016 | 20,221 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
A biochemist is responsible for researching biological processes and the components of organisms to diagnose possible diseases and develop medication solutions for various illnesses and genetic disorders. Biochemists also contribute resources for environmental sustainability that would help the agricultural industry prevent afflictions. They conduct an in-depth analysis of complex projects and manage laboratory investigations while following strict protocols and safety regulations. A biochemist organizes research papers and present studies to other scientists and medical professionals for recommendations or possible further experiments.
Chemists are generally responsible for observing and investigating chemical substances to create new and safe compounds essential for practical applications. They are often grouped depending on a particular area of specialization to focus and understand the complexities of the matter. A chemist usually takes time performing research and conducting experiments to test and further improve the quality and usage of a specific chemical substance. Chemists are expected to write on their observations and findings to establish scientific results.
Biochemists and chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biochemist | Chemist | |
| Average salary | $72,910 | $64,961 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $110,000 | Between $46,000 And $90,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Wilmington, DE |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Genentech | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a biochemist and a chemist in terms of educational background:
| Biochemist | Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between biochemists' and chemists' demographics:
| Biochemist | Chemist | |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 54.0% Female, 46.0% | Male, 59.6% Female, 40.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 7.4% Asian, 17.3% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 18.2% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 5% |