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The differences between biological scientists and research scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, which is higher than the $67,631 average annual salary of a biological scientist.
The top three skills for a biological scientist include data analysis, cell culture and RNA. The most important skills for a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Biological Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $67,631 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $32.51 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 51,327 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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.
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.
Biological scientists and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biological Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $67,631 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $107,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | Schrödinger | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | - |
There are a few differences between a biological scientist and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Biological Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between biological scientists' and research scientists' demographics:
| Biological Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.1% Female, 53.9% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| 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, 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 | 10% | 8% |