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The differences between principal scientists and lead 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 a lead scientist. Additionally, a principal scientist has an average salary of $119,982, which is higher than the $110,028 average annual salary of a lead scientist.
The top three skills for a principal scientist include oncology, data analysis and drug discovery. The most important skills for a lead scientist are C++, java, and data analysis.
| Principal Scientist | Lead Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $119,982 | $110,028 |
| Hourly rate | $57.68 | $52.90 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 80,899 | 49,455 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| 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.
A lead scientist is primarily in charge of leading the efforts in conducting scientific studies within a particular program or project. Their responsibilities revolve around setting goals and objectives, delegating tasks, establishing guidelines, and overseeing the progress and performance of other scientists and workers in a laboratory. They may also liaise with clients and external parties, including the media. Furthermore, as a lead scientist, it is essential to encourage the team to reach goals, all while implementing the laboratory's safety policies and regulations to maintain a safe and productive work environment.
Principal scientists and lead scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Scientist | Lead Scientist | |
| Average salary | $119,982 | $110,028 |
| Salary range | Between $84,000 And $169,000 | Between $78,000 And $153,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Santa Cruz, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Tennessee |
| Best paying company | PayPal | PayPal |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a principal scientist and a lead scientist in terms of educational background:
| Principal Scientist | Lead Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between principal scientists' and lead scientists' demographics:
| Principal Scientist | Lead Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2% | Male, 70.9% Female, 29.1% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 26.5% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |