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The differences between process chemists and research scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, which is higher than the $81,542 average annual salary of a process chemist.
The top three skills for a process chemist include lab equipment, HPLC and R. The most important skills for a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Process Chemist | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $81,542 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $39.20 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 29,813 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
Process chemists are lab professionals who perform qualitative and quantitative analyses of chemicals in laboratories for quality control or to develop new products. These chemists are required to develop synthetic plans and run experiments to test their suitability for large-scale use. They must use different analytical methods and modeling software to monitor the reaction processes of chemicals as well as determine how changes in the process affect the final product. Process chemists must also be familiar with regulations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).
The job of research scientists is to design, undertake, and analyze information from experiments, trials, and laboratory-based investigations. They usually perform experiments in different areas, including medical research, pharmacology, and geoscience. They have varied duties and responsibilities that include planning and carrying out experiments, conducting fieldwork, and overseeing junior staff members like the technicians. They are typically working for a government laboratory, an environmental agency, and other organizations. Many of these scientists also work in teams and support staff.
Process chemists and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Chemist | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $81,542 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $121,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Wilmington, DE | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | California |
| Best paying company | Bio-Rad Laboratories | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a process chemist and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Process Chemist | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between process chemists' and research scientists' demographics:
| Process Chemist | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.3% Female, 22.7% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 20.5% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 5% | 8% |