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The differences between junior scientists and research 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 scientist and a research scientist. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, which is higher than the $63,169 average annual salary of a junior scientist.
The top three skills for a junior scientist include lab equipment, literature and data analysis. The most important skills for a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Junior Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $63,169 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $30.37 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 56,283 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
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.
Junior scientists and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $63,169 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $44,000 And $90,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The University of Chicago | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a junior scientist and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Junior Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between junior scientists' and research scientists' demographics:
| Junior Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 29.6% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |