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The differences between post-doctoral scientists and associate 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 post-doctoral scientist and an associate scientist. Additionally, an associate scientist has an average salary of $76,461, which is higher than the $58,490 average annual salary of a post-doctoral scientist.
The top three skills for a post-doctoral scientist include research projects, molecular biology and PI. The most important skills for an associate scientist are chemistry, patients, and cell culture.
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $58,490 | $76,461 |
| Hourly rate | $28.12 | $36.76 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 57,376 | 54,950 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A post-doctoral scientist is responsible for conducting more complex research studies to gain knowledge and expertise on scientific methodologies and investigations. Post-doctoral scientists collect materials and components for the examination that would support their scientific claims. They perform field investigations, interview participants, and write accurate reports for reference. A post-doctoral scientist must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, as well as an interest in discoveries and science nature that would play a vital role in the research development.
An Associate Scientist assists in various experiments and research, working under the direction of a lead scientist. Their specialties may include biological life sciences, geo-science, atmospheric physics, and computing.
Post-doctoral scientists and associate scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Average salary | $58,490 | $76,461 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $78,000 | Between $53,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Phillips 66 |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a post-doctoral scientist and an associate scientist in terms of educational background:
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between post-doctoral scientists' and associate scientists' demographics:
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.9% Female, 37.1% | Male, 48.6% Female, 51.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 33.1% White, 46.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |