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The differences between biological scientists and chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a biological scientist has an average salary of $67,631, which is higher than the $64,961 average annual salary of a chemist.
The top three skills for a biological scientist include data analysis, cell culture and RNA. The most important skills for a chemist are chemistry, lab equipment, and test results.
| Biological Scientist | Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $67,631 | $64,961 |
| Hourly rate | $32.51 | $31.23 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 51,327 | 20,221 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A biological scientist's duties will vary depending on one's industry of employment. Typically, they are responsible for studying and conducting research and analysis on living organisms, collaborating with fellow scientists, traveling to different areas, and keeping an accurate record of all observations, results, and processes. They must also prepare reports and presentations, reviewing them to ensure accuracy in every detail. Furthermore, a biological scientist may work in a laboratory setting or conduct lectures at an academic institution.
Chemists are generally responsible for observing and investigating chemical substances to create new and safe compounds essential for practical applications. They are often grouped depending on a particular area of specialization to focus and understand the complexities of the matter. A chemist usually takes time performing research and conducting experiments to test and further improve the quality and usage of a specific chemical substance. Chemists are expected to write on their observations and findings to establish scientific results.
Biological scientists and chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biological Scientist | Chemist | |
| Average salary | $67,631 | $64,961 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $107,000 | Between $46,000 And $90,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Wilmington, DE |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Schrödinger | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a biological scientist and a chemist in terms of educational background:
| Biological Scientist | Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Cornell University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between biological scientists' and chemists' demographics:
| Biological Scientist | Chemist | |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.1% Female, 53.9% | Male, 59.6% Female, 40.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 15.3% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 18.2% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 5% |