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The differences between post-doctoral scientists and senior 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 senior scientist. Additionally, a senior scientist has an average salary of $106,672, 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 senior scientist are patients, data analysis, and molecular biology.
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Senior Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $58,490 | $106,672 |
| Hourly rate | $28.12 | $51.28 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 57,376 | 49,712 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| 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 senior scientist is usually in charge of overseeing experiments and evaluating junior scientists' performance, especially in laboratory settings. Moreover, it is also their responsibility to assess every progress report to ensure it's accuracy and validity. As a senior scientist in the field, it is essential to lead and encourage fellow scientists in their joint pursuit for scientific innovations, all while adhering to the laboratory's standards and policies.
Post-doctoral scientists and senior scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Senior Scientist | |
| Average salary | $58,490 | $106,672 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $78,000 | Between $74,000 And $153,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a post-doctoral scientist and a senior scientist in terms of educational background:
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Senior Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between post-doctoral scientists' and senior scientists' demographics:
| Post-Doctoral Scientist | Senior Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.9% Female, 37.1% | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% |
| 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, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 26.9% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |