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The differences between bioinformatics scientists and research 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 scientist and a research scientist. Additionally, a bioinformatics scientist has an average salary of $91,530, which is higher than the $89,998 average annual salary of a research scientist.
The top three skills for a bioinformatics scientist include python, next-generation sequencing and data analysis. The most important skills for a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Bioinformatics Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $91,530 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $44.00 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 57,026 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| 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.
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.
Bioinformatics scientists and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Bioinformatics Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $91,530 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $129,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | NVIDIA | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | - |
There are a few differences between a bioinformatics scientist and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Bioinformatics Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Biostatistics | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between bioinformatics scientists' and research scientists' demographics:
| Bioinformatics Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.9% Female, 18.1% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 29.6% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |