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The differences between junior research scientists and scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a junior research scientist and a scientist. Additionally, a scientist has an average salary of $97,344, which is higher than the $67,062 average annual salary of a junior research scientist.
The top three skills for a junior research scientist include python, PI and C++. The most important skills for a scientist are chemistry, data analysis, and patients.
| Junior Research Scientist | Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $67,062 | $97,344 |
| Hourly rate | $32.24 | $46.80 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 101,873 | 62,467 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A junior research scientist is responsible for evaluating and interpreting scientific results from laboratory investigations and experiments. Junior research scientists assist the senior scientists in gathering information to support research studies and claims. They perform both laboratory and field trials to collect samples for further examinations. A junior research scientist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing comprehensive reports, following accurate scientific methodologies, and submitting the research findings on time to the research supervisor.
A scientist is responsible for researching and analyzing the nature and complexities of the physical world to identify discoveries that would improve people's lives and ignite scientific knowledge for society. Scientists' duties differ in their different areas of expertise, but all of them must have a broad comprehension of scientific disciplines and methods to support their experiments and investigations. They collect the sample for their research, record findings, create research proposals, and release publications. A scientist must know how to utilize laboratory equipment to support the study and drive results efficiently and accurately.
Junior research scientists and scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Research Scientist | Scientist | |
| Average salary | $67,062 | $97,344 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $92,000 | Between $67,000 And $140,000 |
| Highest paying City | South San Francisco, CA | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Zappos.com | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Education | Technology |
There are a few differences between a junior research scientist and a scientist in terms of educational background:
| Junior Research Scientist | Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between junior research scientists' and scientists' demographics:
| Junior Research Scientist | Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.3% Female, 51.7% | Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |