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Chemist assistant vs senior chemist

The differences between chemist assistants and senior chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior chemist has an average salary of $91,008, which is higher than the $51,817 average annual salary of a chemist assistant.

The top three skills for a chemist assistant include laboratory instruments, product quality and chemical analysis. The most important skills for a senior chemist are method development, laboratory equipment, and HPLC.

Chemist assistant vs senior chemist overview

Chemist AssistantSenior Chemist
Yearly salary$51,817$91,008
Hourly rate$24.91$43.75
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs6,14412,823
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does a chemist assistant do?

Chemist assistants maintain laboratory readiness in supporting the production and contingency operations for instrument maintenance and personnel training. The assistants manage daily laboratory operations such as conducting and recording instrument maintenance. They develop minimum product property tolerances and production standards. It is their job to monitor the quality of products to ensure standard compliance. Also, they support capacity expansion projects, product quality projects, and process improvement initiatives.

What does a senior chemist do?

Senior Chemists are responsible for designing, developing, and testing formulations and compounds. They also maintain and troubleshoot laboratory equipment and relevant documentation.

Chemist assistant vs senior chemist salary

Chemist assistants and senior chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Chemist AssistantSenior Chemist
Average salary$51,817$91,008
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $87,000Between $67,000 And $123,000
Highest paying City-Fremont, CA
Highest paying state-Vermont
Best paying company-Google
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between chemist assistant and senior chemist education

There are a few differences between a chemist assistant and a senior chemist in terms of educational background:

Chemist AssistantSenior Chemist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorChemistryChemistry
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chemist assistant vs senior chemist demographics

Here are the differences between chemist assistants' and senior chemists' demographics:

Chemist AssistantSenior Chemist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 56.3% Female, 43.7%Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 18.3% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 22.3% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between chemist assistant and senior chemist duties and responsibilities

Chemist assistant example responsibilities.

  • Test developmental compounds to ASTM standards and manage certification submissions.
  • Take initiative to be cross-train in chemistry methods used by the company to perform additional tests that ensure uninterrupt laboratory operation.
  • Conduct enzyme assays and performance testing with different enzymes in liquid and powder detergent formulations.

Senior chemist example responsibilities.

  • Manage an analytical laboratory, which include SEM-EDS, GC-MS, GPC, FT-IR, ICP-MS, TGA and DSC equipment.
  • Conduct GC-MS, TGA, and FTIR, UV/Vis spectroscopic analysis of extractables and elemental impurities.
  • Develop Simethicone assay method by FT-IR in liquid dosage.
  • Used EPA methods for actinide, technetium, strontium, and tritium determination.
  • Prepare submission documentation, including CMC sections, for IDE and PMA submissions.
  • Supervise mobile lab team of analysts at various EPA super fund site locations for PCB and halo-hydrocarbons analysis testing.
  • Show more

Chemist assistant vs senior chemist skills

Common chemist assistant skills
  • Laboratory Instruments, 27%
  • Product Quality, 13%
  • Chemical Analysis, 6%
  • HPLC, 5%
  • Analytical Instrumentation, 4%
  • Lab Equipment, 4%
Common senior chemist skills
  • Method Development, 8%
  • Laboratory Equipment, 6%
  • HPLC, 5%
  • Analytical Methods, 5%
  • R, 4%
  • GMP, 4%

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