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The differences between chemical engineers and research and development engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a research and development engineer has an average salary of $100,169, which is higher than the $89,449 average annual salary of a chemical engineer.
The top three skills for a chemical engineer include chemistry, technical support and co-op. The most important skills for a research and development engineer are python, R, and solidworks.
| Chemical Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $89,449 | $100,169 |
| Hourly rate | $43.00 | $48.16 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 42,176 | 187,910 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
A chemical engineer provides support for chemical operations and testing new processes. The processes they successfully come up with are used to make different products from gas, oil, food, and drink. It is their job to assist in designing new chemical processes and make improvements. They implement fresh ideas to improve standard quality and efficiency. They must be good planners and schedulers of project activities to help chemical technicians to achieve their project objectives and provide technical support to maintain safe, stable, and reliable operations.
Research and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies. Their duties vary and depend on the industries they work in. Responsibilities of these engineers include developing new technologies, designing products, and managing the projects until they are completed. Additionally, they lead the project team members to manage their schedules, design the project plans, and collaborate with key departments in developing new products.
Chemical engineers and research and development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chemical Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $89,449 | $100,169 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $119,000 | Between $74,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sugar Land, TX | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | Texas | California |
| Best paying company | BP America Inc | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a chemical engineer and a research and development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Chemical Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Chemical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between chemical engineers' and research and development engineers' demographics:
| Chemical Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.1% Female, 25.9% | Male, 85.2% Female, 14.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 21.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.7% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |