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The differences between principal scientists and laboratory analysts 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 a laboratory analyst takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a principal scientist has an average salary of $119,982, which is higher than the $44,024 average annual salary of a laboratory analyst.
The top three skills for a principal scientist include oncology, data analysis and drug discovery. The most important skills for a laboratory analyst are test methods, lab equipment, and lims.
| Principal Scientist | Laboratory Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $119,982 | $44,024 |
| Hourly rate | $57.68 | $21.17 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 80,899 | 44,074 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| 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.
A Laboratory Analyst helps conduct experiments, run laboratory tests, and analyze results. They compile and record data for the documentation needed for testing and report preparation.
Principal scientists and laboratory analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Scientist | Laboratory Analyst | |
| Average salary | $119,982 | $44,024 |
| Salary range | Between $84,000 And $169,000 | Between $31,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | PayPal | AbbVie |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a principal scientist and a laboratory analyst in terms of educational background:
| Principal Scientist | Laboratory Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between principal scientists' and laboratory analysts' demographics:
| Principal Scientist | Laboratory Analyst | |
| Average age | 41 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2% | Male, 48.3% Female, 51.7% |
| 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, 9.5% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |