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The differences between principal research scientists and chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a principal research scientist has an average salary of $127,191, which is higher than the $64,961 average annual salary of a chemist.
The top three skills for a principal research scientist include research projects, principal research and data analysis. The most important skills for a chemist are chemistry, lab equipment, and test results.
| Principal Research Scientist | Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $127,191 | $64,961 |
| Hourly rate | $61.15 | $31.23 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 126,911 | 20,221 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
Principal research scientists are responsible for designing and directing research laboratories, commencing new research activities, and searching for funding opportunities. Other duties include presenting proposals and attaining the terms of research grants and contracts, organizing, running, and reporting on original research, as well as constituting their research groups externally. These scientists usually propose, implement, and report a distinguished scientific program. The individuals appointed on this role may regularly serve as chief investigators on grants and contracts.
Chemists are generally responsible for observing and investigating chemical substances to create new and safe compounds essential for practical applications. They are often grouped depending on a particular area of specialization to focus and understand the complexities of the matter. A chemist usually takes time performing research and conducting experiments to test and further improve the quality and usage of a specific chemical substance. Chemists are expected to write on their observations and findings to establish scientific results.
Principal research scientists and chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Research Scientist | Chemist | |
| Average salary | $127,191 | $64,961 |
| Salary range | Between $87,000 And $184,000 | Between $46,000 And $90,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Wilmington, DE |
| Highest paying state | California | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Start-up | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a principal research scientist and a chemist in terms of educational background:
| Principal Research Scientist | Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between principal research scientists' and chemists' demographics:
| Principal Research Scientist | Chemist | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.7% Female, 21.3% | Male, 59.6% Female, 40.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 18.2% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |