Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between chemist scientists and research chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a chemist scientist has an average salary of $82,078, which is higher than the $75,843 average annual salary of a research chemist.
The top three skills for a chemist scientist include HPLC, uv/vis and R. The most important skills for a research chemist are laboratory equipment, method development, and R.
| Chemist Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $82,078 | $75,843 |
| Hourly rate | $39.46 | $36.46 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 48,790 | 53,769 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
The main role of chemist scientists is to investigate the properties of matter in terms of molecules and atoms. The scientists measure the reaction rates and proportions to have a better understanding of unfamiliar substances and their behavior. They study how these substances may create new compounds for various practical applications. Their job is to introduce the chemical catalysts for qualitative and quantitative analysis. Also, they write reports and technical papers.
A research chemist specializes in conducting studies and experiments to develop new products. Their duties primarily focus on conducting research and assessments, gathering and analyzing chemical samples, developing ideas, conducting tests to study chemical reactions, maintaining records of all procedures, and utilizing previous studies. Their research findings can be used to create new medicines, enhance existing products, and lead to innovations. When it comes to employment, a research chemist may work for pharmaceutical companies, private laboratories, government agencies, and learning institutions.
Chemist scientists and research chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chemist Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Average salary | $82,078 | $75,843 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $119,000 | Between $53,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | McLean, VA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Entegris | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a chemist scientist and a research chemist in terms of educational background:
| Chemist Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between chemist scientists' and research chemists' demographics:
| Chemist Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.3% Female, 36.7% | Male, 68.5% Female, 31.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 20.5% White, 57.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 22.2% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |