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The differences between chief scientists and research laboratory managers 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 research laboratory manager. Additionally, a chief scientist has an average salary of $108,046, which is higher than the $64,333 average annual salary of a research laboratory manager.
The top three skills for a chief scientist include DOD, RF and IC. The most important skills for a research laboratory manager are lab equipment, research projects, and lab safety.
| Chief Scientist | Research Laboratory Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $108,046 | $64,333 |
| Hourly rate | $51.95 | $30.93 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 60,741 | 89,981 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| 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.
Research laboratory managers are management professionals who are responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of laboratories by implementing safety lab procedures. These managers are required to coordinate the repair and maintenance of lab equipment while training lab technicians and assistants on the correct use of equipment. They must perform experimental studies and analyze the research data collected for research projects. Research laboratory managers must also manage the inventory of laboratory equipment while coordinating the purchase of lab supplies.
Chief scientists and research laboratory managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chief Scientist | Research Laboratory Manager | |
| Average salary | $108,046 | $64,333 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $168,000 | Between $45,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Uber Technologies | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a chief scientist and a research laboratory manager in terms of educational background:
| Chief Scientist | Research Laboratory Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Physics | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between chief scientists' and research laboratory managers' demographics:
| Chief Scientist | Research Laboratory Manager | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.1% Female, 13.9% | Male, 45.2% Female, 54.8% |
| 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, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |