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The differences between materials scientists and senior 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 materials scientist and a senior scientist. Additionally, a senior scientist has an average salary of $106,672, 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 scientist are patients, data analysis, and molecular biology.
| Materials Scientist | Senior Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $84,459 | $106,672 |
| Hourly rate | $40.61 | $51.28 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 46,795 | 49,712 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 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.
A senior scientist is usually in charge of overseeing experiments and evaluating junior scientists' performance, especially in laboratory settings. Moreover, it is also their responsibility to assess every progress report to ensure it's accuracy and validity. As a senior scientist in the field, it is essential to lead and encourage fellow scientists in their joint pursuit for scientific innovations, all while adhering to the laboratory's standards and policies.
Materials scientists and senior scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Materials Scientist | Senior Scientist | |
| Average salary | $84,459 | $106,672 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $119,000 | Between $74,000 And $153,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a materials scientist and a senior scientist in terms of educational background:
| Materials Scientist | Senior Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between materials scientists' and senior scientists' demographics:
| Materials Scientist | Senior Scientist | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.9% Female, 27.1% | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% |
| 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, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 26.9% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 8% |