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The differences between chief science officers and executive directors 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 an executive director takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an executive director has an average salary of $127,956, 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 an executive director are oversight, patients, and customer service.
| Chief Science Officer | Executive Director | |
| Yearly salary | $126,094 | $127,956 |
| Hourly rate | $60.62 | $61.52 |
| Growth rate | 16% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 69,119 | 97,471 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 47 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 4 |
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.
Executive directors are top management employees who usually function as a chief executive officer. This role is usually seen in non-profit organizations. Executive directors provide strategic direction to the organization, and they ensure that the organization's goals are actualized. They provide guidance to the employees and ensure that the employees have the organization's advocacies at the center of every project or program. They oversee the policies of the organization and create strategies that will bring the organization's programs forward. Executive directors are also responsible for making crucial decisions for the betterment of the organization.
Chief science officers and executive directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chief Science Officer | Executive Director | |
| Average salary | $126,094 | $127,956 |
| Salary range | Between $83,000 And $190,000 | Between $76,000 And $213,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New York |
| Best paying company | Community Health Systems | Genentech |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Finance |
There are a few differences between a chief science officer and an executive director in terms of educational background:
| Chief Science Officer | Executive Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Biology | Business |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between chief science officers' and executive directors' demographics:
| Chief Science Officer | Executive Director | |
| Average age | 47 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.7% Female, 26.3% | Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0% |
| 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, 7.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 5.0% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 10% |