Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between manufacturing scientists and research 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 manufacturing scientist and a research scientist. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, which is higher than the $87,366 average annual salary of a manufacturing scientist.
The top three skills for a manufacturing scientist include chemistry, continuous improvement and QC. The most important skills for a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Manufacturing Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $87,366 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $42.00 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 74,018 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A manufacturing scientist specializes in conducting experiments to develop products and procedures according to its product development needs. It is their duty to understand the purpose and vision of the projects, perform research and analysis, coordinate with clients and experts, and keep records of all procedures and findings. They must also identify market needs, studying feedback from clients. Furthermore, as a manufacturing scientist, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff for an efficient and successful workflow.
The job of research scientists is to design, undertake, and analyze information from experiments, trials, and laboratory-based investigations. They usually perform experiments in different areas, including medical research, pharmacology, and geoscience. They have varied duties and responsibilities that include planning and carrying out experiments, conducting fieldwork, and overseeing junior staff members like the technicians. They are typically working for a government laboratory, an environmental agency, and other organizations. Many of these scientists also work in teams and support staff.
Manufacturing scientists and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $87,366 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $122,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Lumileds | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing scientist and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between manufacturing scientists' and research scientists' demographics:
| Manufacturing Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.6% Female, 54.4% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% 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, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 29.6% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |