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The differences between materials scientists and senior chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior chemist has an average salary of $91,008, which is higher than the $84,459 average annual salary of a materials scientist.
The top three skills for a materials scientist include polymer, SEM and materials characterization. The most important skills for a senior chemist are method development, laboratory equipment, and HPLC.
| Materials Scientist | Senior Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $84,459 | $91,008 |
| Hourly rate | $40.61 | $43.75 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 46,795 | 12,823 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| 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.
Senior Chemists are responsible for designing, developing, and testing formulations and compounds. They also maintain and troubleshoot laboratory equipment and relevant documentation.
Materials scientists and senior chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Materials Scientist | Senior Chemist | |
| Average salary | $84,459 | $91,008 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $119,000 | Between $67,000 And $123,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a materials scientist and a senior chemist in terms of educational background:
| Materials Scientist | Senior Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Cornell University | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between materials scientists' and senior chemists' demographics:
| Materials Scientist | Senior Chemist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.9% Female, 27.1% | Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4% |
| 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, 9.3% Asian, 22.3% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |