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The differences between biochemists and 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 scientist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a scientist has an average salary of $97,344, 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 scientist are chemistry, data analysis, and patients.
| Biochemist | Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $72,910 | $97,344 |
| Hourly rate | $35.05 | $46.80 |
| Growth rate | 15% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 16,016 | 62,467 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| 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.
A scientist is responsible for researching and analyzing the nature and complexities of the physical world to identify discoveries that would improve people's lives and ignite scientific knowledge for society. Scientists' duties differ in their different areas of expertise, but all of them must have a broad comprehension of scientific disciplines and methods to support their experiments and investigations. They collect the sample for their research, record findings, create research proposals, and release publications. A scientist must know how to utilize laboratory equipment to support the study and drive results efficiently and accurately.
Biochemists and scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biochemist | Scientist | |
| Average salary | $72,910 | $97,344 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $110,000 | Between $67,000 And $140,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | Genentech | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a biochemist and a scientist in terms of educational background:
| Biochemist | Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| 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 scientists' demographics:
| Biochemist | Scientist | |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 54.0% Female, 46.0% | Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1% |
| 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, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 8% |