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The differences between lead scientists and medical science liaisons 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 a medical science liaison. Additionally, a medical science liaison has an average salary of $145,718, 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 a medical science liaison are patients, medical affairs, and MSL.
| Lead Scientist | Medical Science Liaison | |
| Yearly salary | $110,028 | $145,718 |
| Hourly rate | $52.90 | $70.06 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 49,455 | 57,208 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| 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.
A medical science liaison (MSL) is a scientific professional who facilitates a working relationship between healthcare companies and leading physicians, researchers, and clinicians. Also referred to as key opinion leaders (KOL), medical science liaisons represent their company to the decision-makers in the medical community as well as to investors and government regulatory agencies. They analyze clinical trends and monitor the scientific literature for new developments in the medical community. Medical science liaisons also prepare medical samples and data to investigate the causes of chronic diseases, pathogens, and toxicity.
Lead scientists and medical science liaisons have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Scientist | Medical Science Liaison | |
| Average salary | $110,028 | $145,718 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $153,000 | Between $59,000 And $359,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Cruz, CA | Jackson, TN |
| Highest paying state | Tennessee | Tennessee |
| Best paying company | PayPal | Saint Luke's Health System |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a lead scientist and a medical science liaison in terms of educational background:
| Lead Scientist | Medical Science Liaison | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between lead scientists' and medical science liaisons' demographics:
| Lead Scientist | Medical Science Liaison | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.9% Female, 29.1% | Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4% |
| 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, 23.4% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |