Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between lead scientists and postdoctoral research associates 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 postdoctoral research associate. Additionally, a lead scientist has an average salary of $110,028, which is higher than the $52,785 average annual salary of a postdoctoral research associate.
The top three skills for a lead scientist include C++, java and data analysis. The most important skills for a postdoctoral research associate are python, research projects, and chemistry.
| Lead Scientist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $110,028 | $52,785 |
| Hourly rate | $52.90 | $25.38 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 49,455 | 59,377 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| 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 postdoctoral research associate is responsible for assisting the educational institution's research department, writing research reports, analyzing research methods, and collecting information and related studies to support the research claims. Postdoctoral research associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, reporting research updates to the research head, performing adjustments as needed, and gaining more expertise on the subject by brainstorming and discussing strategic procedures for the study. They may also conduct field investigation or coordinate with other institutions for additional reference, depending on the research's scope and limitation.
Lead scientists and postdoctoral research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Scientist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $110,028 | $52,785 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $153,000 | Between $38,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Cruz, CA | Memphis, TN |
| Highest paying state | Tennessee | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | PayPal | Argonne National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a lead scientist and a postdoctoral research associate in terms of educational background:
| Lead Scientist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between lead scientists' and postdoctoral research associates' demographics:
| Lead Scientist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.9% Female, 29.1% | Male, 65.7% Female, 34.3% |
| 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, 5.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 38.1% White, 43.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |