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The differences between chemists and microbiologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a chemist has an average salary of $64,961, which is higher than the $54,620 average annual salary of a microbiologist.
The top three skills for a chemist include chemistry, lab equipment and test results. The most important skills for a microbiologist are lab equipment, microbiology lab, and environmental monitoring.
| Chemist | Microbiologist | |
| Yearly salary | $64,961 | $54,620 |
| Hourly rate | $31.23 | $26.26 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 20,221 | 11,444 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
Chemists are generally responsible for observing and investigating chemical substances to create new and safe compounds essential for practical applications. They are often grouped depending on a particular area of specialization to focus and understand the complexities of the matter. A chemist usually takes time performing research and conducting experiments to test and further improve the quality and usage of a specific chemical substance. Chemists are expected to write on their observations and findings to establish scientific results.
Microbiologists are responsible for studying the microscopic organisms causing infections and environmental damage, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Their work focuses on the identification and growth of these microbes to better understand their characteristics that may help in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious and bacterial diseases. They use sophisticated technologies and machinery to study microbes and perform their tasks. These scientists are also responsible for developing best practices and techniques for routine sampling and research. Microbiologists may work in various settings, including laboratories, research institutes, and hospitals.
Chemists and microbiologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chemist | Microbiologist | |
| Average salary | $64,961 | $54,620 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $90,000 | Between $39,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Wilmington, DE | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Meta | Battelle |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a chemist and a microbiologist in terms of educational background:
| Chemist | Microbiologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between chemists' and microbiologists' demographics:
| Chemist | Microbiologist | |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.6% Female, 40.4% | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 18.2% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 13.6% White, 69.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 10% |