Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between physicists and research physicists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a physicist and a research physicist. Additionally, a physicist has an average salary of $110,869, which is higher than the $74,663 average annual salary of a research physicist.
The top three skills for a physicist include patients, radiology and oncology. The most important skills for a research physicist are data analysis, laser, and python.
| Physicist | Research Physicist | |
| Yearly salary | $110,869 | $74,663 |
| Hourly rate | $53.30 | $35.90 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 803 | 46,060 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Physicists explain the effect of structures, phenomena, and forces on the natural world. Physicists determine and explore the primary principles governing the behavior and structure of matter. They study energy generation and transfer as well as the interaction between matter and energy. Their job involves the development of theories on the properties of matter, time, space, and energy. The position requires extensive research for technical papers and reports contributing to the industry. Physicians teach and lecture students on the laws associated with physics.
A research physicist's job is to conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories based on observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories. Their duties and responsibilities include describing observations, developing simulations, and advising authorities on procedures to be followed.
Physicists and research physicists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Physicist | Research Physicist | |
| Average salary | $110,869 | $74,663 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $180,000 | Between $51,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rochester, NY | Coram, NY |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New York |
| Best paying company | Sanford Health | Sandia National Labs |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a physicist and a research physicist in terms of educational background:
| Physicist | Research Physicist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Physics | Physics |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between physicists' and research physicists' demographics:
| Physicist | Research Physicist | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1% | Male, 85.4% Female, 14.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.0% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.4% Asian, 13.2% White, 73.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 10.8% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 24% | 24% |