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The differences between forensic chemists and analytical chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an analytical chemist has an average salary of $61,573, which is higher than the $56,597 average annual salary of a forensic chemist.
The top three skills for a forensic chemist include ms, GC and laboratory equipment. The most important skills for an analytical chemist are method development, HPLC, and laboratory equipment.
| Forensic Chemist | Analytical Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $56,597 | $61,573 |
| Hourly rate | $27.21 | $29.60 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 7,902 | 14,661 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A forensic chemist analyzes non-biological trace evidence at crime scenes for the determination of unknown materials. Forensic chemists apply chemistry and its subfield forensic toxicology and employ the scientific method to investigate the presented evidence. The result of their analysis provides investigators and medical examiners the necessary information for logical conclusions on probable crimes. Patience and versatility are often cited as the important qualities forensic chemists need to acquire.
An Analytical Chemist uses a wide range of methods to investigate the chemical nature of substances. They analyze samples using different software, techniques, and equipment, and then interpret and report the results.
Forensic chemists and analytical chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Forensic Chemist | Analytical Chemist | |
| Average salary | $56,597 | $61,573 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $80,000 | Between $44,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Milford, MA |
| Highest paying state | - | Delaware |
| Best paying company | - | Micron Technology |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a forensic chemist and an analytical chemist in terms of educational background:
| Forensic Chemist | Analytical Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between forensic chemists' and analytical chemists' demographics:
| Forensic Chemist | Analytical Chemist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.6% Female, 59.4% | Male, 59.6% Female, 40.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 18.2% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 19.2% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |