Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between biochemists and research scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a biochemist, becoming a research scientist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, which is higher than the $72,910 average annual salary of a biochemist.
The top three skills for a biochemist include chemistry, immunoassay and elisa. The most important skills for a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Biochemist | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $72,910 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $35.05 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 15% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 16,016 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
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.
The job of research scientists is to design, undertake, and analyze information from experiments, trials, and laboratory-based investigations. They usually perform experiments in different areas, including medical research, pharmacology, and geoscience. They have varied duties and responsibilities that include planning and carrying out experiments, conducting fieldwork, and overseeing junior staff members like the technicians. They are typically working for a government laboratory, an environmental agency, and other organizations. Many of these scientists also work in teams and support staff.
Biochemists and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biochemist | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $72,910 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $110,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | Genentech | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a biochemist and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Biochemist | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Duke University |
Here are the differences between biochemists' and research scientists' demographics:
| Biochemist | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 54.0% Female, 46.0% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 29.6% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 8% |