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The differences between field chemists and postdoctoral scholars can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a field chemist has an average salary of $66,162, which is higher than the $57,587 average annual salary of a postdoctoral scholar.
The top three skills for a field chemist include CDL, non-hazardous waste and customer sites. The most important skills for a postdoctoral scholar are chemistry, python, and patients.
| Field Chemist | Postdoctoral Scholar | |
| Yearly salary | $66,162 | $57,587 |
| Hourly rate | $31.81 | $27.69 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 51,922 | 18,983 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
Field chemists are scientists responsible for researching reactions that occur between different substances and creating procedures for safe handling of those substances by individuals, businesses, or factories. They are involved in gathering research data, implementing regulatory standards for hazardous substances, and assisting with the clean-up process for incidents such as spills. The data gathered is used to help develop new products for use in hazardous waste management, medicine, manufacturing, and other industries.
A Postdoctoral Scholar is responsible for supporting an educational research group to conduct studies and gather relevant data to support study claims and scientific evidence. They review initial findings, perform field investigations, and interview the target respondents for data and statistical analysis. They also coordinate with the whole team for efficient research methods, ensuring adherence to budget limitations and required timetables. A Postdoctoral Scholar must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, to document reports and discuss results with the research team.
Field chemists and postdoctoral scholars have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Field Chemist | Postdoctoral Scholar | |
| Average salary | $66,162 | $57,587 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $101,000 | Between $41,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a field chemist and a postdoctoral scholar in terms of educational background:
| Field Chemist | Postdoctoral Scholar | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of California, Berkeley | Duke University |
Here are the differences between field chemists' and postdoctoral scholars' demographics:
| Field Chemist | Postdoctoral Scholar | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.6% Female, 17.4% | Male, 53.0% Female, 47.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 18.1% White, 59.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 8% |