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The differences between chief scientists and laboratory researchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a chief scientist and a laboratory researcher. Additionally, a chief scientist has an average salary of $108,046, which is higher than the $27,760 average annual salary of a laboratory researcher.
The top three skills for a chief scientist include DOD, RF and IC. The most important skills for a laboratory researcher are lab procedures, cell culture, and molecular biology.
| Chief Scientist | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Yearly salary | $108,046 | $27,760 |
| Hourly rate | $51.95 | $13.35 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 60,741 | 57,359 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Chief scientists supervise, plan, and budget the funds for research activities to publish their discoveries with influential publication companies. By doing commentaries with the press and media, they spread their knowledge about science to the public. They are mentors or coaches to non-professional scientists and help them build a case to get their promotion. For their subordinates to feel motivated to reach their goals when working on research projects, chief scientists must maintain a professional, creative, but engaging environment.
Laboratory researchers are professionals who manage a research laboratory while performing cellular and biochemical experiments with the primary researcher. These researchers must work with hazardous chemicals and should show expertise in handling lab equipment such as glassware and field equipment. They are required to assist with research projects and interpret the test data of an experiment. They must manage the order of all lab equipment by filling up the purchase requisition forms. Laboratory researchers are required to work with students in all aspects of laboratory research.
Chief scientists and laboratory researchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chief Scientist | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Average salary | $108,046 | $27,760 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $168,000 | Between $17,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New Brunswick, NJ |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Maine |
| Best paying company | Uber Technologies | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Education |
There are a few differences between a chief scientist and a laboratory researcher in terms of educational background:
| Chief Scientist | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Physics | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between chief scientists' and laboratory researchers' demographics:
| Chief Scientist | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.1% Female, 13.9% | Male, 56.7% Female, 43.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |