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The differences between molecular biologists and genetic engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a molecular biologist, becoming a genetic engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a genetic engineer has an average salary of $96,906, which is higher than the $73,763 average annual salary of a molecular biologist.
The top three skills for a molecular biologist include CRISPR, next-generation sequencing and cell culture. The most important skills for a genetic engineer are R, , and .
| Molecular Biologist | Genetic Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $73,763 | $96,906 |
| Hourly rate | $35.46 | $46.59 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 22,019 | 22,544 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 2 |
Molecular biologists and genetic engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Molecular Biologist | Genetic Engineer | |
| Average salary | $73,763 | $96,906 |
| Salary range | Between $52,000 And $104,000 | Between $74,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | Urban Honolulu, HI | - |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | - |
| Best paying company | Novartis | - |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a molecular biologist and a genetic engineer in terms of educational background:
| Molecular Biologist | Genetic Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Harvard University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between molecular biologists' and genetic engineers' demographics:
| Molecular Biologist | Genetic Engineer | |
| Average age | 40 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.9% Female, 51.1% | Male, 100.0% Female, 0.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 7.4% Asian, 17.3% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 6.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 68.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 13% |