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The differences between post-doctoral scientists and doctoral fellows 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 a doctoral fellow. Additionally, a post-doctoral scientist has an average salary of $58,490, which is higher than the $53,366 average annual salary of a doctoral fellow.
The top three skills for a post-doctoral scientist include research projects, molecular biology and PI. The most important skills for a doctoral fellow are patients, cell culture, and data analysis.
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Doctoral Fellow | |
| Yearly salary | $58,490 | $53,366 |
| Hourly rate | $28.12 | $25.66 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 57,376 | 22,661 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 46% | Doctoral Degree, 46% |
| 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.
A doctoral fellow is a physician that has completed studies and receives a fellowship to cover his/her or her expenses while completing his/her or her medical dissertation. A doctor fellow undergoes this fellowship to get additional training for their chosen sub-specialty. During the fellowship period, a fellow can act as an attending physician or consultant physician with other physicians' direct supervision in the sub-specialty field.
Post-doctoral scientists and doctoral fellows have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Doctoral Fellow | |
| Average salary | $58,490 | $53,366 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $78,000 | Between $39,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Amazon | IBM |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a post-doctoral scientist and a doctoral fellow in terms of educational background:
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Doctoral Fellow | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 46% | Doctoral Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between post-doctoral scientists' and doctoral fellows' demographics:
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Doctoral Fellow | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.9% Female, 37.1% | Male, 55.3% Female, 44.7% |
| 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, 6.1% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 32.9% White, 47.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |