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Bioinformatics engineer vs scientist

The differences between bioinformatics engineers and scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a bioinformatics engineer and a scientist. Additionally, a bioinformatics engineer has an average salary of $104,575, which is higher than the $97,344 average annual salary of a scientist.

The top three skills for a bioinformatics engineer include python, next-generation sequencing and NGS. The most important skills for a scientist are chemistry, data analysis, and patients.

Bioinformatics engineer vs scientist overview

Bioinformatics EngineerScientist
Yearly salary$104,575$97,344
Hourly rate$50.28$46.80
Growth rate21%17%
Number of jobs125,41062,467
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age3941
Years of experience44

What does a bioinformatics engineer do?

Bioinformatics engineers are professionals who use bioinformatics methodology and hypothesis to analyze biological data such as gene sequence and protein absorption. These engineers are required to distribute, formulate, and engineer the open-source application solutions so that they can facilitate the analysis and unified stem cell information management systems. They must ensure that information entered is accurate and correct while sustaining infrastructure for the maintenance of the sequencing information and other related data. Bioinformatics engineers must also apply an algorithm to recover and execute the exchange of vital information.

What does a scientist do?

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.

Bioinformatics engineer vs scientist salary

Bioinformatics engineers and scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Bioinformatics EngineerScientist
Average salary$104,575$97,344
Salary rangeBetween $73,000 And $148,000Between $67,000 And $140,000
Highest paying CityRichmond, CARedwood City, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterAirbnb
Best paying industryStart-upTechnology

Differences between bioinformatics engineer and scientist education

There are a few differences between a bioinformatics engineer and a scientist in terms of educational background:

Bioinformatics EngineerScientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorBiostatisticsChemistry
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Southern California

Bioinformatics engineer vs scientist demographics

Here are the differences between bioinformatics engineers' and scientists' demographics:

Bioinformatics EngineerScientist
Average age3941
Gender ratioMale, 62.2% Female, 37.8%Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 6.4% Asian, 31.3% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%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 Percentage8%8%

Differences between bioinformatics engineer and scientist duties and responsibilities

Bioinformatics engineer example responsibilities.

  • Develop and deploy of large legacy Postgresql-backed web app build with CodeIgniter PHP that manages Solazyme's internal business data.
  • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
  • Assist in updating an in-house LIMS system for effective DNA sample tracking.
  • Develop front-end UX/UI and data visualization for a web base microarray data analysis application using D3.js and AngularJS.
  • Incorporate functionalities of tools like GATK in various scripts.
  • Design & development of automate pipeline for assembly and annotation of RNA sequencing data.
  • Show more

Scientist example responsibilities.

  • Lead a cross-functional team to return an HIV combination product to market on random-access instrument.
  • Design the VERIS HIV-1 quantitative PCR assay which achieve Conformit Europ enne (CE) marking.
  • Manage an elemental analytical laboratory that include operating, maintaining and troubleshooting an ICP-OES, ICPMS, MXRF, and IC.
  • Develop and manage third party claim investigations and contractor remedial oversight for various insurance companies.
  • Manage study protocols and study conduct, intimately involve in the toxicology and pharmacokinetic study protocol development process.
  • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
  • Show more

Bioinformatics engineer vs scientist skills

Common bioinformatics engineer skills
  • Python, 32%
  • Next-Generation Sequencing, 13%
  • NGS, 10%
  • AWS, 10%
  • Java, 6%
  • DNA, 4%
Common scientist skills
  • Chemistry, 9%
  • Data Analysis, 7%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Molecular Biology, 4%
  • Cell Culture, 4%
  • Java, 3%

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