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The differences between lead scientists and senior 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 lead scientist and a senior research fellow. Additionally, a lead scientist has an average salary of $110,028, which is higher than the $62,129 average annual salary of a senior research fellow.
The top three skills for a lead scientist include C++, java and data analysis. The most important skills for a senior research fellow are python, research projects, and data analysis.
| Lead Scientist | Senior Research Fellow | |
| Yearly salary | $110,028 | $62,129 |
| Hourly rate | $52.90 | $29.87 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 49,455 | 53,535 |
| 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.
Senior Research Fellows are reputable researchers employed in an academic institution or a research facility. The nature of their employment in the institution is related to their research work or field of interest. Senior Research Fellows lead a team of researchers on big projects that require more team members. They manage the team's budget, set timelines, and guide the researchers. They spearhead the analysis of the data gathered. They also set the tone for the presentation materials. Senior Research Fellows should be passionate about their field, should have a thirst for knowledge, and should be able to lead teams.
Lead scientists and senior research fellows have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Scientist | Senior Research Fellow | |
| Average salary | $110,028 | $62,129 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $153,000 | Between $40,000 And $95,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Cruz, CA | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | Tennessee | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | PayPal | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a lead scientist and a senior research fellow in terms of educational background:
| Lead Scientist | Senior Research Fellow | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between lead scientists' and senior research fellows' demographics:
| Lead Scientist | Senior Research Fellow | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.9% Female, 29.1% | Male, 56.1% Female, 43.9% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 26.5% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |