Contract scientist vs researcher

The differences between contract 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 contract scientist and a researcher. Additionally, a contract scientist has an average salary of $98,484, which is higher than the $67,145 average annual salary of a researcher.

The top three skills for a contract scientist include technical reports, HPLC and chemistry. The most important skills for a researcher are python, lab equipment, and C++.

Contract scientist vs researcher overview

	Contract Scientist	Researcher
Yearly salary	$98,484	$67,145
Hourly rate	$47.35	$32.28
Growth rate	17%	17%
Number of jobs	51,771	30,498
Job satisfaction	-	3
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 69%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age	41	41
Years of experience	4	4

Contract scientist vs researcher salary

Contract scientists and researchers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Contract Scientist	Researcher
Average salary	$98,484	$67,145
Salary range	Between $68,000 And $141,000	Between $37,000 And $119,000
Highest paying City	-	Newark, NJ
Highest paying state	-	Connecticut
Best paying company	-	Renaissance Learning
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between contract scientist and researcher education

There are a few differences between a contract scientist and a researcher in terms of educational background:

	Contract Scientist	Researcher
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 69%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common major	Biology	Biology
Most common college	University of Southern California	University of Southern California

Contract scientist vs researcher demographics

Here are the differences between contract scientists' and researchers' demographics:

	Contract Scientist	Researcher
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 55.1% Female, 44.9%	Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 26.2% White, 53.1% 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%

Differences between contract scientist and researcher duties and responsibilities

Contract scientist example responsibilities.

Manage data of project samples through LIMS software.
Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
Present chemistry of current and future targets at team meetings.
Coordinate internal blood draws to harvest serum and plasma for future testing.
Authenticate structure and purity of compounds by NMR, LCMS, HPLC, and CHN.
Complete a proprietary research project in photo-electric chemistry.

Researcher example responsibilities.

Manage social media publications to spread awareness and notifications on Facebook.
Perform cellular assays, DNA extractions, PCR, and sequencing to identify cellulase- producing soil bacteria.
Implement data visualization tools by Java.
Present research findings to select professors and professionals at scholar conferences.
Master techniques in biomedical science research methods.
Collaborate with doctorates in the field of immunology.

Contract scientist vs researcher skills

Common contract scientist skills

Technical Reports, 12%
HPLC, 8%
Chemistry, 8%
Data Analysis, 8%
Analytical Methods, 8%
Western Blotting, 6%

Common researcher skills

Python, 12%
Lab Equipment, 9%
C++, 8%
Data Analysis, 6%
Data Collection, 4%
R, 4%

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Contract Scientist
Contract Scientist vs Researcher

Updated January 8, 2025

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