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The differences between principal scientists and associate 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 principal scientist and an associate scientist. Additionally, a principal scientist has an average salary of $119,982, which is higher than the $76,461 average annual salary of an associate scientist.
The top three skills for a principal scientist include oncology, data analysis and drug discovery. The most important skills for an associate scientist are chemistry, patients, and cell culture.
| Principal Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $119,982 | $76,461 |
| Hourly rate | $57.68 | $36.76 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 80,899 | 54,950 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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 Associate Scientist assists in various experiments and research, working under the direction of a lead scientist. Their specialties may include biological life sciences, geo-science, atmospheric physics, and computing.
Principal scientists and associate scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Average salary | $119,982 | $76,461 |
| Salary range | Between $84,000 And $169,000 | Between $53,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | PayPal | Phillips 66 |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a principal scientist and an associate scientist in terms of educational background:
| Principal Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between principal scientists' and associate scientists' demographics:
| Principal Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2% | Male, 48.6% Female, 51.4% |
| 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, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |