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The differences between health physicists and research scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a health physicist, becoming a research scientist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, which is higher than the $74,942 average annual salary of a health physicist.
The top three skills for a health physicist include radioactive materials, oversight and ALARA. The most important skills for a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Health Physicist | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $74,942 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $36.03 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 47,640 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A health physicist investigates research principles by which radiation interacts with living systems and matter. Health physicists study environmental radioactivity levels. Part of their research is radiation's effects on biological systems in space and on earth. They ensure the proper functioning of the x-ray and the storage of radiation therapy. Part of their responsibility is to make sure that scientists are following regulations and safely using their radioactive materials. Also, they are advocates of human and environmental protection.
The job of research scientists is to design, undertake, and analyze information from experiments, trials, and laboratory-based investigations. They usually perform experiments in different areas, including medical research, pharmacology, and geoscience. They have varied duties and responsibilities that include planning and carrying out experiments, conducting fieldwork, and overseeing junior staff members like the technicians. They are typically working for a government laboratory, an environmental agency, and other organizations. Many of these scientists also work in teams and support staff.
Health physicists and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Health Physicist | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $74,942 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $134,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | UCI Health | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Energy | - |
There are a few differences between a health physicist and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Health Physicist | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Physics | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Duke University |
Here are the differences between health physicists' and research scientists' demographics:
| Health Physicist | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.9% Female, 23.1% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.8% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 7.2% White, 77.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 29.6% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 24% | 8% |