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The differences between cancer researchers and associate 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 cancer researcher and an associate scientist. Additionally, an associate scientist has an average salary of $76,461, which is higher than the $73,896 average annual salary of a cancer researcher.
The top three skills for a cancer researcher include patients, clinical research and clinical trials. The most important skills for an associate scientist are chemistry, patients, and cell culture.
| Cancer Researcher | Associate Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $73,896 | $76,461 |
| Hourly rate | $35.53 | $36.76 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 24,199 | 54,950 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A cancer researcher is a medical scientist who devotes their time working at laboratories to study and discover ways to diagnose and treat cancer, saving countless people's lives in the process. Their duties usually include gathering and analyzing samples through basic or complex laboratory processes, studying existing cases from people of all ages, organizing specimens and instruments, coordinating with fellow experts, conducting experiments, and maintaining extensive records. Moreover, as a cancer researcher, it is essential to keep an open communication line with fellow researchers, collaborating efforts for a smooth workflow.
An Associate Scientist assists in various experiments and research, working under the direction of a lead scientist. Their specialties may include biological life sciences, geo-science, atmospheric physics, and computing.
Cancer researchers and associate scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cancer Researcher | Associate Scientist | |
| Average salary | $73,896 | $76,461 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $117,000 | Between $53,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | AstraZeneca | Phillips 66 |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a cancer researcher and an associate scientist in terms of educational background:
| Cancer Researcher | Associate Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between cancer researchers' and associate scientists' demographics:
| Cancer Researcher | Associate Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.9% Female, 63.1% | Male, 48.6% Female, 51.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |