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The differences between materials scientists and chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a materials scientist has an average salary of $84,459, which is higher than the $64,961 average annual salary of a chemist.
The top three skills for a materials scientist include polymer, SEM and materials characterization. The most important skills for a chemist are chemistry, lab equipment, and test results.
| Materials Scientist | Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $84,459 | $64,961 |
| Hourly rate | $40.61 | $31.23 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 46,795 | 20,221 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
A materials scientist is responsible for evaluating scientific properties, investigating chemical solutions and structures, and analyzing the components of natural materials. Materials scientists perform data analysis using scientific methods and operating different laboratory tools and equipment to develop entirely new scientific discoveries that would benefit various market industries for production. They also validate their findings by researching existing cases or coordinating with science experts to support their claims. A materials scientist creates a comprehensive report, including its scope and benefits for society.
Chemists are generally responsible for observing and investigating chemical substances to create new and safe compounds essential for practical applications. They are often grouped depending on a particular area of specialization to focus and understand the complexities of the matter. A chemist usually takes time performing research and conducting experiments to test and further improve the quality and usage of a specific chemical substance. Chemists are expected to write on their observations and findings to establish scientific results.
Materials scientists and chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Materials Scientist | Chemist | |
| Average salary | $84,459 | $64,961 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $119,000 | Between $46,000 And $90,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | Wilmington, DE |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a materials scientist and a chemist in terms of educational background:
| Materials Scientist | Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Cornell University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between materials scientists' and chemists' demographics:
| Materials Scientist | Chemist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.9% Female, 27.1% | Male, 59.6% Female, 40.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 29.6% White, 51.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 18.2% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |