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The differences between biological scientists and senior scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior scientist has an average salary of $106,672, 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 senior scientist are patients, data analysis, and molecular biology.
| Biological Scientist | Senior Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $67,631 | $106,672 |
| Hourly rate | $32.51 | $51.28 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 51,327 | 49,712 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| 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.
A senior scientist is usually in charge of overseeing experiments and evaluating junior scientists' performance, especially in laboratory settings. Moreover, it is also their responsibility to assess every progress report to ensure it's accuracy and validity. As a senior scientist in the field, it is essential to lead and encourage fellow scientists in their joint pursuit for scientific innovations, all while adhering to the laboratory's standards and policies.
Biological scientists and senior scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biological Scientist | Senior Scientist | |
| Average salary | $67,631 | $106,672 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $107,000 | Between $74,000 And $153,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | Schrödinger | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a biological scientist and a senior scientist in terms of educational background:
| Biological Scientist | Senior Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between biological scientists' and senior scientists' demographics:
| Biological Scientist | Senior Scientist | |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.1% Female, 53.9% | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% |
| 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, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 26.9% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 8% |