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The differences between laboratory chemists and research chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a research chemist has an average salary of $75,843, which is higher than the $62,702 average annual salary of a laboratory chemist.
The top three skills for a laboratory chemist include lab equipment, chromatography and analytical methods. The most important skills for a research chemist are laboratory equipment, method development, and R.
| Laboratory Chemist | Research Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $62,702 | $75,843 |
| Hourly rate | $30.15 | $36.46 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 41,322 | 53,769 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
A research chemist specializes in conducting studies and experiments to develop new products. Their duties primarily focus on conducting research and assessments, gathering and analyzing chemical samples, developing ideas, conducting tests to study chemical reactions, maintaining records of all procedures, and utilizing previous studies. Their research findings can be used to create new medicines, enhance existing products, and lead to innovations. When it comes to employment, a research chemist may work for pharmaceutical companies, private laboratories, government agencies, and learning institutions.
Laboratory chemists and research chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Chemist | Research Chemist | |
| Average salary | $62,702 | $75,843 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $86,000 | Between $53,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Nutley, NJ | McLean, VA |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | Virginia |
| Best paying company | BASF | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between a laboratory chemist and a research chemist in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Chemist | Research Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between laboratory chemists' and research chemists' demographics:
| Laboratory Chemist | Research Chemist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.9% Female, 36.1% | Male, 68.5% Female, 31.5% |
| 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, 7.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 22.2% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |