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The differences between laboratory scientists and research fellows can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a laboratory scientist and a research fellow. Additionally, a laboratory scientist has an average salary of $66,249, which is higher than the $53,823 average annual salary of a research fellow.
The top three skills for a laboratory scientist include chemistry, ASCP and laboratory procedures. The most important skills for a research fellow are patients, research projects, and data analysis.
| Laboratory Scientist | Research Fellow | |
| Yearly salary | $66,249 | $53,823 |
| Hourly rate | $31.85 | $25.88 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 83,505 | 59,746 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A laboratory scientist specializes in conducting research and experiments for a company or an academic institution. Their responsibilities primarily revolve around gathering and labeling samples, documenting data and progress, reviewing results, and even maintaining the cleanliness of the laboratory and its apparatus. There are also instances when they have to collaborate with other scientists, report progress, and even contribute them to different publications. Furthermore, a laboratory scientist may supervise less experienced colleagues, all while implementing the safety policies and regulations of the laboratory to maintain a safe and productive work environment.
A research fellow is an academic researcher who conducts research and analysis of comprehensive literature, data, and results and provides literature reviews. He/She supervises research assistants and recruits study participants to interview them for a particular study. To become a research fellow, a candidate should have a doctorate in a relevant discipline and publish peer-reviewed papers. Also, a research fellow can be an independent investigator or be supervised by a principal investigator.
Laboratory scientists and research fellows have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laboratory Scientist | Research Fellow | |
| Average salary | $66,249 | $53,823 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $93,000 | Between $39,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | South San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a laboratory scientist and a research fellow in terms of educational background:
| Laboratory Scientist | Research Fellow | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between laboratory scientists' and research fellows' demographics:
| Laboratory Scientist | Research Fellow | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.0% Female, 51.0% | Male, 55.3% Female, 44.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 27.1% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |