Principle investigator vs research scientist

The differences between principle investigators and research 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 principle investigator and a research scientist. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, which is higher than the $78,325 average annual salary of a principle investigator.

The top three skills for a principle investigator include GPS, data collection and PI. The most important skills for a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.

Principle investigator vs research scientist overview

	Principle Investigator	Research Scientist
Yearly salary	$78,325	$89,998
Hourly rate	$37.66	$43.27
Growth rate	17%	17%
Number of jobs	5,554	93,013
Job satisfaction	-	3
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age	41	41
Years of experience	4	4

Principle investigator vs research scientist salary

Principle investigators and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Principle Investigator	Research Scientist
Average salary	$78,325	$89,998
Salary range	Between $46,000 And $133,000	Between $58,000 And $137,000
Highest paying City	-	Menlo Park, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Lyft
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between principle investigator and research scientist education

There are a few differences between a principle investigator and a research scientist in terms of educational background:

	Principle Investigator	Research Scientist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common major	Psychology	Chemistry
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Principle investigator vs research scientist demographics

Here are the differences between principle investigators' and research scientists' demographics:

	Principle Investigator	Research Scientist
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 49.9% Female, 50.1%	Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 26.5% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%	Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 29.6% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between principle investigator and research scientist duties and responsibilities

Principle investigator example responsibilities.

Manage outsource projects, and interact with vendors for API sourcing, and device components base on project needs.
Promote to perform sequence analysis and identify target primer sites for the development of PCR assays for bacterial species.
Synthesize and analyze experimental data using IBM SPSS.
Investigate the toxicology and efficacy of bioresorbable, polymer-base medical devices and extend release drug delivery system.
Supervise activities of analytical cellular and molecular immunology laboratories.
Supervise activities of analytical cellular and molecular immunology laboratories.

Research scientist example responsibilities.

Manage the development of innovative visualization and concept mapping of contest environment analysis challenges and analyst skill sets.
Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
Used real-time PCR and DNA sequencing to troubleshoot and validate SNP base and gene expression assays.
Prepare clear technical presentations to NIH department heads in annual seminars.
Analyze chromatin dynamics during primordial germ cell specification with a CRISPR mouse model.
Identify impurities in final drug by LCMS and reject impurities with ethanol/water swish.

Principle investigator vs research scientist skills

Common principle investigator skills

GPS, 9%
Data Collection, 8%
PI, 8%
Literature Reviews, 8%
Data Analysis, 6%
Research Projects, 5%

Common research scientist skills

Python, 11%
Data Analysis, 6%
Patients, 6%
C++, 6%
Research Projects, 6%
Chemistry, 5%

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Principle Investigator
Principle Investigator vs Research Scientist

Updated January 8, 2025

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