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The differences between cancer researchers and staff 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 staff scientist. Additionally, a staff scientist has an average salary of $93,941, 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 staff scientist are data analysis, research projects, and molecular biology.
| Cancer Researcher | Staff Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $73,896 | $93,941 |
| Hourly rate | $35.53 | $45.16 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 24,199 | 121,054 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| 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 primary role of a Staff Scientist is to develop and manage scientific research projects with minimal supervision. They are also responsible for the technical and budgetary aspects of scientific research projects.
Cancer researchers and staff scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cancer Researcher | Staff Scientist | |
| Average salary | $73,896 | $93,941 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $117,000 | Between $63,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | AstraZeneca | Etsy |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a cancer researcher and a staff scientist in terms of educational background:
| Cancer Researcher | Staff Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between cancer researchers' and staff scientists' demographics:
| Cancer Researcher | Staff Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.9% Female, 63.1% | Male, 67.8% Female, 32.2% |
| 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, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 26.5% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |