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The differences between cancer researchers 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 cancer researcher and a research scientist. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, 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 a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Cancer Researcher | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $73,896 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $35.53 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 24,199 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| 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.
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.
Cancer researchers and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cancer Researcher | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $73,896 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $117,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | AstraZeneca | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a cancer researcher and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Cancer Researcher | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between cancer researchers' and research scientists' demographics:
| Cancer Researcher | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.9% Female, 63.1% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| 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, 6.2% 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% |