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The differences between process scientists 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 process scientist and a research scientist. Additionally, a process scientist has an average salary of $92,203, which is higher than the $89,998 average annual salary of a research scientist.
The top three skills for a process scientist include chemistry, GMP and cell culture. The most important skills for a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Process Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $92,203 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $44.33 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 67,699 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
In a manufacturing environment, a process scientist is primarily in charge of developing products and procedures, ensuring quality and efficiency. Their responsibilities include performing research and analysis to identify market and client needs, gathering and analyzing extensive data, assessing existing practices to determine its strengths and weaknesses, improving vulnerable areas, and monitoring the progress of all operations, implementing solutions as necessary. Aside from performing various experiments for product development, a process scientist may also collaborate with other experts and train junior scientists in the joint effort to deliver quality products and services to clients.
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 scientists and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $92,203 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $124,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Tennessee | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a process scientist and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Process Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between process scientists' and research scientists' demographics:
| Process Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.7% Female, 28.3% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 26.4% 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% |