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The differences between clinical scientists and 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 clinical scientist and a researcher. Additionally, a clinical scientist has an average salary of $122,388, which is higher than the $67,145 average annual salary of a researcher.
The top three skills for a clinical scientist include patients, informed consent and clinical operations. The most important skills for a researcher are python, lab equipment, and C++.
| Clinical Scientist | Researcher | |
| Yearly salary | $122,388 | $67,145 |
| Hourly rate | $58.84 | $32.28 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 96,923 | 30,498 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A clinical scientist's duties depend on their line of work or place of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around conducting experiments and research, gathering and preparing samples such as blood and tissues, analyzing and examining specimens through different processes, reviewing data and results, and coordinating with other scientists to develop medicines or treatments. They may also train new scientists, oversee assistants' performance, and maintain order in a laboratory. Furthermore, a clinical scientist may work in hospitals, clinics, private laboratories, learning institutions, or research facilities.
A researcher is responsible for collating, organizing, and verifying necessary information for a specific subject. Researchers' duties include analyzing data, gathering and comparing resources, ensuring facts, sharing findings with the whole research team, adhering to required methodologies, performing fieldwork as needed, and keeping critical information confidential. Researchers must be knowledgeable about the current market trends and align findings with the research goals. A researcher must show strong communication skills, as well as strong attention to detail and time-management skills to meet deadlines under minimal supervision.
Clinical scientists and researchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Scientist | Researcher | |
| Average salary | $122,388 | $67,145 |
| Salary range | Between $94,000 And $157,000 | Between $37,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | Indianapolis, IN | Newark, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Reata Pharmaceuticals | Renaissance Learning |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | - |
There are a few differences between a clinical scientist and a researcher in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Scientist | Researcher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between clinical scientists' and researchers' demographics:
| Clinical Scientist | Researcher | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.0% Female, 63.0% | Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.3% 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% |