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The differences between post-doctoral scientists and research 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 a research scientist. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, 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 scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $58,490 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $28.12 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 57,376 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| 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.
The job of research scientists is to design, undertake, and analyze information from experiments, trials, and laboratory-based investigations. They usually perform experiments in different areas, including medical research, pharmacology, and geoscience. They have varied duties and responsibilities that include planning and carrying out experiments, conducting fieldwork, and overseeing junior staff members like the technicians. They are typically working for a government laboratory, an environmental agency, and other organizations. Many of these scientists also work in teams and support staff.
Post-doctoral scientists and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $58,490 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $78,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | - |
There are a few differences between a post-doctoral scientist and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between post-doctoral scientists' and research scientists' demographics:
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.9% Female, 37.1% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 29.6% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |