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The differences between development scientists and microbiologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a development scientist, becoming a microbiologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a development scientist has an average salary of $92,514, which is higher than the $54,620 average annual salary of a microbiologist.
The top three skills for a development scientist include chemistry, data analysis and GMP. The most important skills for a microbiologist are lab equipment, microbiology lab, and environmental monitoring.
| Development Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Yearly salary | $92,514 | $54,620 |
| Hourly rate | $44.48 | $26.26 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 92,039 | 11,444 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
Companies with a manufacturing arm usually employ Development Scientists. They are responsible for studying the company's processes and products and conducting research on improving these. They work on new strategies to make production and manufacturing more efficient. They also conduct feasibility studies to ensure that the strategies they come up with are effective and analyze the results of such studies. They then present these findings to their colleagues and develop implementation strategies for smoother streamlining of new processes.
Microbiologists are responsible for studying the microscopic organisms causing infections and environmental damage, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Their work focuses on the identification and growth of these microbes to better understand their characteristics that may help in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious and bacterial diseases. They use sophisticated technologies and machinery to study microbes and perform their tasks. These scientists are also responsible for developing best practices and techniques for routine sampling and research. Microbiologists may work in various settings, including laboratories, research institutes, and hospitals.
Development scientists and microbiologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Development Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Average salary | $92,514 | $54,620 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $124,000 | Between $39,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Battelle |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a development scientist and a microbiologist in terms of educational background:
| Development Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between development scientists' and microbiologists' demographics:
| Development Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.8% Female, 44.2% | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 13.6% White, 69.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |