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The differences between postdoc research associates 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 postdoc research associate and a senior scientist. Additionally, a senior scientist has an average salary of $106,672, which is higher than the $56,259 average annual salary of a postdoc research associate.
The top three skills for a postdoc research associate include data analysis, mouse model and research projects. The most important skills for a senior scientist are patients, data analysis, and molecular biology.
| Postdoc Research Associate | Senior Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $56,259 | $106,672 |
| Hourly rate | $27.05 | $51.28 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 49,460 | 49,712 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Postdoc research associates are professionals who are responsible for assisting postdoctoral researchers in their research after completing doctoral studies. These associates must train and mentor undergraduate and graduate students with their ongoing research projects so that they can be completed on time. They are required to perform data analysis and should prepare scientific and technical reports that will be presented at scientific conferences. Postdoc research associates must also conduct literature reviews on topics such as government policy, economic impact analyses, and scientific journal articles.
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.
Postdoc research associates and senior scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Postdoc Research Associate | Senior Scientist | |
| Average salary | $56,259 | $106,672 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $78,000 | Between $74,000 And $153,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sunnyvale, CA | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | IBM | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a postdoc research associate and a senior scientist in terms of educational background:
| Postdoc Research Associate | Senior Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between postdoc research associates' and senior scientists' demographics:
| Postdoc Research Associate | Senior Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.1% Female, 26.9% | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Asian, 45.4% White, 38.8% 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% |