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The differences between field chemists and production chemists 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 $62,937 average annual salary of a production chemist.
The top three skills for a field chemist include CDL, non-hazardous waste and customer sites. The most important skills for a production chemist are GMP, laboratory equipment, and synthesis.
| Field Chemist | Production Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $66,162 | $62,937 |
| Hourly rate | $31.81 | $30.26 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 51,922 | 58,948 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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 production chemist is responsible for conducting research and laboratory experiments to identify chemical resources that support the manufacturing of industrial products and services. Production chemists strategize on effective methods to maximize the product's quality and efficiency, following safety regulations and legislation procedures. They also run quality checks on the components to verify their safety and minimize their environmental effect. A production chemist must have excellent organizational and critical-thinking skills, as well as having extensive knowledge of the scientific industry.
Field chemists and production chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Field Chemist | Production Chemist | |
| Average salary | $66,162 | $62,937 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $101,000 | Between $38,000 And $101,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Pennsauken, NJ |
| Highest paying state | - | Delaware |
| Best paying company | - | Bio-Rad Laboratories |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a field chemist and a production chemist in terms of educational background:
| Field Chemist | Production Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of California, Berkeley | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between field chemists' and production chemists' demographics:
| Field Chemist | Production Chemist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.6% Female, 17.4% | Male, 70.4% Female, 29.6% |
| 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, 7.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 24.4% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |