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The differences between laboratory chemists and microbiologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a laboratory chemist has an average salary of $62,702, which is higher than the $54,620 average annual salary of a microbiologist.
The top three skills for a laboratory chemist include lab equipment, chromatography and analytical methods. The most important skills for a microbiologist are lab equipment, microbiology lab, and environmental monitoring.
| Laboratory Chemist | Microbiologist | |
| Yearly salary | $62,702 | $54,620 |
| Hourly rate | $30.15 | $26.26 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 41,322 | 11,444 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
Laboratory Chemists are licensed scientists who work with chemicals. They are usually found in academic institutions or research facilities. Laboratory Chemists create experiments based on the needs of the institution or company. They mix different chemicals to make the desired results. They would also analyze compounds borne out of the different mixtures and record their observations. They tabulate the results and present these to the body. Laboratory Chemists should have good organization skills. They should be able to document their experiments properly. This would help the company and future researchers.
Microbiologists are responsible for studying the microscopic organisms causing infections and environmental damage, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Their work focuses on the identification and growth of these microbes to better understand their characteristics that may help in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious and bacterial diseases. They use sophisticated technologies and machinery to study microbes and perform their tasks. These scientists are also responsible for developing best practices and techniques for routine sampling and research. Microbiologists may work in various settings, including laboratories, research institutes, and hospitals.
Laboratory chemists and microbiologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Chemist | Microbiologist | |
| Average salary | $62,702 | $54,620 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $86,000 | Between $39,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Nutley, NJ | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | BASF | Battelle |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a laboratory chemist and a microbiologist in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Chemist | Microbiologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between laboratory chemists' and microbiologists' demographics:
| Laboratory Chemist | Microbiologist | |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.9% Female, 36.1% | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 18.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 13.6% White, 69.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 10% |