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The differences between chief science officers and chief operating officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a chief science officer, becoming a chief operating officer takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, a chief operating officer has an average salary of $136,604, which is higher than the $126,094 average annual salary of a chief science officer.
The top three skills for a chief science officer include R, business strategy and oversight. The most important skills for a chief operating officer are healthcare, customer service, and oversight.
| Chief Science Officer | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $126,094 | $136,604 |
| Hourly rate | $60.62 | $65.67 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 69,119 | 128,993 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 47 | 52 |
| Years of experience | 8 | - |
Chief Science Officers are responsible for leading the scientific operations of an organization. Their duties include developing scientific strategies, directing clinical trial designs, implementing research processes, and communicating the scientific vision to investors and senior management. Besides that, they are involved in managing the scientific budget, identifying research opportunities, and fostering scientific partnerships with key stakeholders. Chief Science Officers are also involved in creating research programs, track research milestones, and source for funding channels. They produce research and development reports and provide mentorship to the research team.
A chief operating officer, also known as a COO, is a high-ranking official who oversees a company or organization's daily administrative and overall operations. They are typically the second in the chain of command, reporting directly to the company's chief executive officer, also known as a CEO. Among their duties include developing strategies and guidelines, reviewing reports, performing assessments, and implementing the company's policies, standards, and regulations. Additionally, they lead and empower staff to reach goals, helping solve issues and concerns when any arise.
Chief science officers and chief operating officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chief Science Officer | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Average salary | $126,094 | $136,604 |
| Salary range | Between $83,000 And $190,000 | Between $81,000 And $229,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Community Health Systems | Baker McKenzie |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a chief science officer and a chief operating officer in terms of educational background:
| Chief Science Officer | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Biology | Business |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between chief science officers' and chief operating officers' demographics:
| Chief Science Officer | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Average age | 47 | 52 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.7% Female, 26.3% | Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 12.8% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Asian, 7.5% White, 76.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 12% |