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The differences between principal scientists and assistant research scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a principal scientist, becoming an assistant research scientist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a principal scientist has an average salary of $119,982, which is higher than the $62,780 average annual salary of an assistant research scientist.
The top three skills for a principal scientist include oncology, data analysis and drug discovery. The most important skills for an assistant research scientist are research projects, data collection, and data analysis.
| Principal Scientist | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $119,982 | $62,780 |
| Hourly rate | $57.68 | $30.18 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 80,899 | 88,786 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 41 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A Principal Scientist is focused on leading scientific teams and conducting research. They ensure that their teams have the resources to properly perform research tasks.
An Assistant Research Scientist assists in planning, conducting, and analyzing various research projects. They also order and manage lab inventory, materials, and equipment.
Principal scientists and assistant research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Scientist | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $119,982 | $62,780 |
| Salary range | Between $84,000 And $169,000 | Between $43,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | PayPal | University of California |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Education |
There are a few differences between a principal scientist and an assistant research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Principal Scientist | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between principal scientists' and assistant research scientists' demographics:
| Principal Scientist | Assistant Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2% | Male, 55.6% Female, 44.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 16.7% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |