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The differences between post-doctoral scientists and research chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a research chemist has an average salary of $75,843, 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 a research chemist are laboratory equipment, method development, and R.
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $58,490 | $75,843 |
| Hourly rate | $28.12 | $36.46 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 57,376 | 53,769 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 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 research chemist specializes in conducting studies and experiments to develop new products. Their duties primarily focus on conducting research and assessments, gathering and analyzing chemical samples, developing ideas, conducting tests to study chemical reactions, maintaining records of all procedures, and utilizing previous studies. Their research findings can be used to create new medicines, enhance existing products, and lead to innovations. When it comes to employment, a research chemist may work for pharmaceutical companies, private laboratories, government agencies, and learning institutions.
Post-doctoral scientists and research chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Average salary | $58,490 | $75,843 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $78,000 | Between $53,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | McLean, VA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Amazon | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Energy |
There are a few differences between a post-doctoral scientist and a research chemist in terms of educational background:
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between post-doctoral scientists' and research chemists' demographics:
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.9% Female, 37.1% | Male, 68.5% Female, 31.5% |
| 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, 7.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 22.2% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |