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Junior scientist vs chemistry laboratory assistant

The differences between junior scientists and chemistry laboratory assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a junior scientist, becoming a chemistry laboratory assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a junior scientist has an average salary of $63,169, which is higher than the $30,971 average annual salary of a chemistry laboratory assistant.

The top three skills for a junior scientist include lab equipment, literature and data analysis. The most important skills for a chemistry laboratory assistant are lab equipment, lab safety, and chemistry lab.

Junior scientist vs chemistry laboratory assistant overview

Junior ScientistChemistry Laboratory Assistant
Yearly salary$63,169$30,971
Hourly rate$30.37$14.89
Growth rate17%4%
Number of jobs56,28340,180
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age4144
Years of experience42

What does a junior scientist do?

A junior scientist is in charge of conducting research and scientific studies while under the supervision of a more experienced scientist. Their responsibilities typically revolve around gathering and preparing samples, performing experiments and analysis, coordinating with other experts, recording all progress, reviewing results, and summarizing findings into reports and presentations. In a company setting, a junior scientist must adhere to deadlines and budgets, submitting results to senior scientists and managers. Furthermore, it is essential to uphold the policies and regulations of laboratories to maintain a safe and productive work environment.

What does a chemistry laboratory assistant do?

Chemical Laboratory Assistants are professionals who help researchers and scientists in performing lab experiments and tests. Their tasks involve the maintenance, cleanliness, or sterilization of laboratory equipment or instruments. They perform physical or chemical laboratory tests assisting scientists in the quantitative or qualitative analyses of liquids, gaseous materials, and solids. The necessary skills and knowledge for this job include chemistry, lab reporting, chemical solutions, and safety procedures.

Junior scientist vs chemistry laboratory assistant salary

Junior scientists and chemistry laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Junior ScientistChemistry Laboratory Assistant
Average salary$63,169$30,971
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $90,000Between $16,000 And $58,000
Highest paying CityLos Angeles, CAHartford, CT
Highest paying stateCaliforniaRhode Island
Best paying companyThe University of ChicagoPace University
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between junior scientist and chemistry laboratory assistant education

There are a few differences between a junior scientist and a chemistry laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:

Junior ScientistChemistry Laboratory Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorBiologyChemistry
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaStanford University

Junior scientist vs chemistry laboratory assistant demographics

Here are the differences between junior scientists' and chemistry laboratory assistants' demographics:

Junior ScientistChemistry Laboratory Assistant
Average age4144
Gender ratioMale, 47.0% Female, 53.0%Male, 45.5% Female, 54.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 9.5% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%9%

Differences between junior scientist and chemistry laboratory assistant duties and responsibilities

Junior scientist example responsibilities.

  • Manage study protocols and study conduct, intimately involve in the toxicology and pharmacokinetic study protocol development process.
  • Manufacture supplies for GLP toxicology studies while audit by quality unit.
  • Develop laboratory protocols for genetic extraction/gel electrophoresis.
  • Develop and validate immunoassay methods for the quantitative analysis of proteins.
  • Lead scientist/project manager responsible for developing novel diagnostic genetic and immunoassay base tools to address mechanistic issues and improve pipeline efficiency.

Chemistry laboratory assistant example responsibilities.

  • Comfort frighten patients and maintain an exceptionally bright professional demeanor to accomplish a procedure that makes most people very uncomfortable.
  • Prepare buffer solutions, separate DNA, dissect baby mice, and perform general lab procedures.
  • Facilitate placement and organization of equipment for new laboratory including HPLC, GC-MS, UV-VIS, and DSC.
  • Maintain GC/FID, GC/MS and LC/MS systems.
  • Purify total RNA out of scallop muscle tissue.
  • Maintain proper records and documentation of DNA sequencing products.
  • Show more

Junior scientist vs chemistry laboratory assistant skills

Common junior scientist skills
  • Lab Equipment, 18%
  • Literature, 13%
  • Data Analysis, 8%
  • GMP, 7%
  • Experimental Design, 6%
  • Cell Culture Techniques, 5%
Common chemistry laboratory assistant skills
  • Lab Equipment, 39%
  • Lab Safety, 13%
  • Chemistry Lab, 6%
  • Lab Experiments, 4%
  • Lab Reports, 3%
  • Analytical Chemistry, 2%

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