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The differences between bioinformatics 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 a bioinformatics scientist and a medical science liaison. Additionally, a medical science liaison has an average salary of $145,718, which is higher than the $91,530 average annual salary of a bioinformatics scientist.
The top three skills for a bioinformatics scientist include python, next-generation sequencing and data analysis. The most important skills for a medical science liaison are patients, medical affairs, and MSL.
| Bioinformatics Scientist | Medical Science Liaison | |
| Yearly salary | $91,530 | $145,718 |
| Hourly rate | $44.00 | $70.06 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 57,026 | 57,208 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A bioinformatics scientist specializes in studying biology while utilizing their expertise in computer science. Their responsibilities revolve around developing databases and software for biological advances, improving existing applications as needed, coordinating with different scientists and professionals, and maintaining extensive records of all research and transactions. It is essential to review all data, identify issues, troubleshoot, and perform corrective measures as needed. In a company setting, a bioinformatics scientist must create progress reports and presentations, all while adhering to the company's vision, mission, and goals.
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.
Bioinformatics scientists and medical science liaisons have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Bioinformatics Scientist | Medical Science Liaison | |
| Average salary | $91,530 | $145,718 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $129,000 | Between $59,000 And $359,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Jackson, TN |
| Highest paying state | California | Tennessee |
| Best paying company | NVIDIA | Saint Luke's Health System |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a bioinformatics scientist and a medical science liaison in terms of educational background:
| Bioinformatics Scientist | Medical Science Liaison | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Biostatistics | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between bioinformatics scientists' and medical science liaisons' demographics:
| Bioinformatics Scientist | Medical Science Liaison | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.9% Female, 18.1% | Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 38.6% White, 42.8% 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% |