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The differences between cosmetic chemists and senior scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior scientist has an average salary of $106,672, 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 senior scientist are patients, data analysis, and molecular biology.
| Cosmetic Chemist | Senior Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $59,876 | $106,672 |
| Hourly rate | $28.79 | $51.28 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 7,556 | 49,712 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| 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.
A senior scientist is usually in charge of overseeing experiments and evaluating junior scientists' performance, especially in laboratory settings. Moreover, it is also their responsibility to assess every progress report to ensure it's accuracy and validity. As a senior scientist in the field, it is essential to lead and encourage fellow scientists in their joint pursuit for scientific innovations, all while adhering to the laboratory's standards and policies.
Cosmetic chemists and senior scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cosmetic Chemist | Senior Scientist | |
| Average salary | $59,876 | $106,672 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $83,000 | Between $74,000 And $153,000 |
| Highest paying City | Skillman, NJ | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | BASF | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Best paying industry | - | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a cosmetic chemist and a senior scientist in terms of educational background:
| Cosmetic Chemist | Senior Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between cosmetic chemists' and senior scientists' demographics:
| Cosmetic Chemist | Senior Scientist | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% |
| 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, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 26.9% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 8% |