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The differences between pharmaceutical scientists and microbiologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a pharmaceutical scientist, becoming a microbiologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a pharmaceutical scientist has an average salary of $79,535, which is higher than the $54,620 average annual salary of a microbiologist.
The top three skills for a pharmaceutical scientist include dosage forms, pharmaceutical sciences and formulation development. The most important skills for a microbiologist are lab equipment, microbiology lab, and environmental monitoring.
| Pharmaceutical Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Yearly salary | $79,535 | $54,620 |
| Hourly rate | $38.24 | $26.26 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 45,560 | 11,444 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
Pharmaceutical scientists must have master's degrees or doctorates in pharmacology, chemistry, biology, anatomy, or math. Paid around $86K per year, those who choose this career path perform drug discovery research, development, and testing. They also execute experiments for system-based research projects aimed at introducing new drugs to the marketplace.
Microbiologists are responsible for studying the microscopic organisms causing infections and environmental damage, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Their work focuses on the identification and growth of these microbes to better understand their characteristics that may help in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious and bacterial diseases. They use sophisticated technologies and machinery to study microbes and perform their tasks. These scientists are also responsible for developing best practices and techniques for routine sampling and research. Microbiologists may work in various settings, including laboratories, research institutes, and hospitals.
Pharmaceutical scientists and microbiologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pharmaceutical Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Average salary | $79,535 | $54,620 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $115,000 | Between $39,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | South San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | BASi | Battelle |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a pharmaceutical scientist and a microbiologist in terms of educational background:
| Pharmaceutical Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Pharmacy | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between pharmaceutical scientists' and microbiologists' demographics:
| Pharmaceutical Scientist | Microbiologist | |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.0% Female, 37.0% | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 13.6% White, 69.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |