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The differences between cosmetic chemists and research scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, which is higher than the $59,876 average annual salary of a cosmetic chemist.
The top three skills for a cosmetic chemist include R, GMP and QC. The most important skills for a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Cosmetic Chemist | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $59,876 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $28.79 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 7,556 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
A cosmetic chemist specializes in formulating and developing skincare and cosmetic products such as make-up, lotion, soap, and shampoo. They typically work at laboratories where they work on different chemicals and substances, conduct studies and experiments, perform extensive research and analysis, develop and implement tests and assessments, and maintain records of all procedures. Moreover, a cosmetic chemist must maintain an active communication line with staff while adhering to the safety protocols and standards of a laboratory, especially when handling different chemicals.
The job of research scientists is to design, undertake, and analyze information from experiments, trials, and laboratory-based investigations. They usually perform experiments in different areas, including medical research, pharmacology, and geoscience. They have varied duties and responsibilities that include planning and carrying out experiments, conducting fieldwork, and overseeing junior staff members like the technicians. They are typically working for a government laboratory, an environmental agency, and other organizations. Many of these scientists also work in teams and support staff.
Cosmetic chemists and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cosmetic Chemist | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $59,876 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $83,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Skillman, NJ | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | BASF | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a cosmetic chemist and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Cosmetic Chemist | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between cosmetic chemists' and research scientists' demographics:
| Cosmetic Chemist | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 18.4% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 29.6% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 8% |