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Development scientist vs staff scientist

The differences between development scientists and staff 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 development scientist and a staff scientist. Additionally, a staff scientist has an average salary of $93,941, which is higher than the $92,514 average annual salary of a development scientist.

The top three skills for a development scientist include chemistry, data analysis and GMP. The most important skills for a staff scientist are data analysis, research projects, and molecular biology.

Development scientist vs staff scientist overview

Development ScientistStaff Scientist
Yearly salary$92,514$93,941
Hourly rate$44.48$45.16
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs92,039121,054
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

What does a development scientist do?

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.

What does a staff scientist do?

The primary role of a Staff Scientist is to develop and manage scientific research projects with minimal supervision. They are also responsible for the technical and budgetary aspects of scientific research projects.

Development scientist vs staff scientist salary

Development scientists and staff scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Development ScientistStaff Scientist
Average salary$92,514$93,941
Salary rangeBetween $68,000 And $124,000Between $63,000 And $137,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CARedwood City, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyAmazonEtsy
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between development scientist and staff scientist education

There are a few differences between a development scientist and a staff scientist in terms of educational background:

Development ScientistStaff Scientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorChemistryChemistry
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaDuke University

Development scientist vs staff scientist demographics

Here are the differences between development scientists' and staff scientists' demographics:

Development ScientistStaff Scientist
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 55.8% Female, 44.2%Male, 67.8% Female, 32.2%
Race ratioBlack 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 26.5% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between development scientist and staff scientist duties and responsibilities

Development scientist example responsibilities.

  • Lead group in performing sample preparation and delivering DNA conjugate beads for sequencing on novel NGS platform.
  • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
  • Develop and validate a host cell protein ELISA method for drug substance and in-process samples.
  • Develop qualification protocols (IQ/OQ/PQ) for process and packaging equipment.
  • Conduct regular preventative maintenance on equipment such as titrators, Hamilton diluters, and GC.
  • Attend training for laboratory softwares, cGMP, safety, ISO and other regulatory guidelines and requirements.
  • Show more

Staff scientist example responsibilities.

  • Lead efforts to replace a critical radioactive immunoassay with a non-radioactive format to measure clinical samples.
  • Manage clinical sample testing using MSD and ELISA in LIMS, including data review and approval using LIMS.
  • Assist in managing and maintenance of HPLC and Prep-HPLC systems to ensure maximum productivity for the process development group.
  • Manage pediatric dose development project, technology transfer project and alternate API supplier qualification project on budget and on schedule
  • Assist with RNA and DNA extractions from FFPE tissue and blood.
  • Supervise temps performing HPLC assays and validations during development and production campaigns under GMP conditions.
  • Show more

Development scientist vs staff scientist skills

Common development scientist skills
  • Chemistry, 10%
  • Data Analysis, 7%
  • GMP, 5%
  • HPLC, 4%
  • QC, 3%
  • FDA, 3%
Common staff scientist skills
  • Data Analysis, 9%
  • Research Projects, 7%
  • Molecular Biology, 5%
  • Next-Generation Sequencing, 4%
  • Statistical Analysis, 4%
  • RNA, 4%

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