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The differences between computer scientists and senior computer scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a computer scientist and a senior computer scientist. Additionally, a senior computer scientist has an average salary of $139,644, which is higher than the $103,238 average annual salary of a computer scientist.
The top three skills for a computer scientist include python, computer system and machine learning. The most important skills for a senior computer scientist are python, java, and software development.
| Computer Scientist | Senior Computer Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $103,238 | $139,644 |
| Hourly rate | $49.63 | $67.14 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 59,802 | 68,226 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A computer scientist is responsible for analyzing network infrastructure and designing efficient computer systems according to clients' specifications and business functions. Computer scientists inspect the safety and security of the organization's database, ensuring its protection from malicious activities and unauthorized access. They also manage a large scale of software applications, identifying technical opportunities to improve optimal performance and navigations. A computer scientist must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, strong command on programming languages and system codes, and the ability to solve technical complexities for conceptualization.
A senior computer scientist is extensively involved in conducting research and solving various computer problems. They work as a part of a research team with programmers, IT professionals, and software engineers to create new products. Their primary goal is creating software that can interact with people and other computers.
Computer scientists and senior computer scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Scientist | Senior Computer Scientist | |
| Average salary | $103,238 | $139,644 |
| Salary range | Between $74,000 And $144,000 | Between $102,000 And $190,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | NVIDIA |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Internet |
There are a few differences between a computer scientist and a senior computer scientist in terms of educational background:
| Computer Scientist | Senior Computer Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between computer scientists' and senior computer scientists' demographics:
| Computer Scientist | Senior Computer Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.8% Female, 21.2% | Male, 84.6% Female, 15.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 6.9% Asian, 18.8% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 6.9% Asian, 18.8% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |