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The differences between lead scientists and associate principal 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 lead scientist and an associate principal scientist. Additionally, an associate principal scientist has an average salary of $112,297, which is higher than the $110,028 average annual salary of a lead scientist.
The top three skills for a lead scientist include C++, java and data analysis. The most important skills for an associate principal scientist are data analysis, chemistry, and project management.
| Lead Scientist | Associate Principal Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $110,028 | $112,297 |
| Hourly rate | $52.90 | $53.99 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 49,455 | 82,048 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A lead scientist is primarily in charge of leading the efforts in conducting scientific studies within a particular program or project. Their responsibilities revolve around setting goals and objectives, delegating tasks, establishing guidelines, and overseeing the progress and performance of other scientists and workers in a laboratory. They may also liaise with clients and external parties, including the media. Furthermore, as a lead scientist, it is essential to encourage the team to reach goals, all while implementing the laboratory's safety policies and regulations to maintain a safe and productive work environment.
Associate Principal Scientists are responsible for directing the operations of scientific research.They work with cross-functional teams in elaborating technical specifications, and they provide training and mentorship to staff. An associate principal scientist maintains clients' and projects' confidentiality and learns proactively to keep abreast of technological advancements.Other duties may include resolving conflicts within and between departments, monitoring project timeline and performance, supervising laboratory work, and ensuring accurate scientific report documentation.
Lead scientists and associate principal scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Scientist | Associate Principal Scientist | |
| Average salary | $110,028 | $112,297 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $153,000 | Between $78,000 And $160,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Cruz, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Tennessee | California |
| Best paying company | PayPal | Schrödinger |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Government |
There are a few differences between a lead scientist and an associate principal scientist in terms of educational background:
| Lead Scientist | Associate Principal Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between lead scientists' and associate principal scientists' demographics:
| Lead Scientist | Associate Principal Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.9% Female, 29.1% | Male, 64.1% Female, 35.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 26.5% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 27.1% White, 52.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |