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The differences between product development scientists and chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a product development scientist has an average salary of $84,817, which is higher than the $64,961 average annual salary of a chemist.
The top three skills for a product development scientist include chemistry, project management and data analysis. The most important skills for a chemist are chemistry, lab equipment, and test results.
| Product Development Scientist | Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $84,817 | $64,961 |
| Hourly rate | $40.78 | $31.23 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 147,027 | 20,221 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
A product development scientist is responsible for conducting in-depth scientific research and method analysis to develop medical technologies, medications, and foods, depending on the industry. Product development scientists may also perform enhancements on existing products by studying its components and improve its features. They evaluate the manufacturing processes of a product, providing recommendations on additional resources to generate revenues and profits. A product development scientist often works in a laboratory, requiring them to follow strict safety protocols and ensuring the cleanliness and orderliness of the area to prevent contamination and result inconsistencies.
Chemists are generally responsible for observing and investigating chemical substances to create new and safe compounds essential for practical applications. They are often grouped depending on a particular area of specialization to focus and understand the complexities of the matter. A chemist usually takes time performing research and conducting experiments to test and further improve the quality and usage of a specific chemical substance. Chemists are expected to write on their observations and findings to establish scientific results.
Product development scientists and chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Development Scientist | Chemist | |
| Average salary | $84,817 | $64,961 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $115,000 | Between $46,000 And $90,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Wilmington, DE |
| Highest paying state | California | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Education | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a product development scientist and a chemist in terms of educational background:
| Product Development Scientist | Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between product development scientists' and chemists' demographics:
| Product Development Scientist | Chemist | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.3% Female, 40.7% | Male, 59.6% Female, 40.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 18.2% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |