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The differences between forensic scientists and postdoctoral research associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a forensic scientist and a postdoctoral research associate. Additionally, a forensic scientist has an average salary of $71,351, which is higher than the $52,785 average annual salary of a postdoctoral research associate.
The top three skills for a forensic scientist include laboratory equipment, physical evidence and analytical procedures. The most important skills for a postdoctoral research associate are python, research projects, and chemistry.
| Forensic Scientist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $71,351 | $52,785 |
| Hourly rate | $34.30 | $25.38 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 43,335 | 59,377 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 38 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Forensic scientists work as experts in collecting evidence, analyzing evidence collected at crime scenes, and communicating with law enforcement. They can work as a lab manager and detective. They are responsible for ensuring that tests are performed correctly and ethically without any bias. They obtain evidence at the crime scene, making reports of the findings, examining the evidence in the lab if the evidence collected is relevant or not, and testifying in court. They report to superiors the findings of the analysis.
A postdoctoral research associate is responsible for assisting the educational institution's research department, writing research reports, analyzing research methods, and collecting information and related studies to support the research claims. Postdoctoral research associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, reporting research updates to the research head, performing adjustments as needed, and gaining more expertise on the subject by brainstorming and discussing strategic procedures for the study. They may also conduct field investigation or coordinate with other institutions for additional reference, depending on the research's scope and limitation.
Forensic scientists and postdoctoral research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Forensic Scientist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $71,351 | $52,785 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $112,000 | Between $38,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lincoln, NE | Memphis, TN |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Alere | Argonne National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Professional |
There are a few differences between a forensic scientist and a postdoctoral research associate in terms of educational background:
| Forensic Scientist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | Duke University |
Here are the differences between forensic scientists' and postdoctoral research associates' demographics:
| Forensic Scientist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average age | 38 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% | Male, 65.7% Female, 34.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 10.5% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 38.1% White, 43.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |