Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between product development scientists and postdoctoral research associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a product development scientist and a postdoctoral research associate. Additionally, a product development scientist has an average salary of $84,817, which is higher than the $52,785 average annual salary of a postdoctoral research associate.
The top three skills for a product development scientist include chemistry, project management and data analysis. The most important skills for a postdoctoral research associate are python, research projects, and chemistry.
| Product Development Scientist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $84,817 | $52,785 |
| Hourly rate | $40.78 | $25.38 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 147,027 | 59,377 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 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.
A postdoctoral research associate is responsible for assisting the educational institution's research department, writing research reports, analyzing research methods, and collecting information and related studies to support the research claims. Postdoctoral research associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, reporting research updates to the research head, performing adjustments as needed, and gaining more expertise on the subject by brainstorming and discussing strategic procedures for the study. They may also conduct field investigation or coordinate with other institutions for additional reference, depending on the research's scope and limitation.
Product development scientists and postdoctoral research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Development Scientist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $84,817 | $52,785 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $115,000 | Between $38,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Memphis, TN |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Argonne National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Education | Professional |
There are a few differences between a product development scientist and a postdoctoral research associate in terms of educational background:
| Product Development Scientist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between product development scientists' and postdoctoral research associates' demographics:
| Product Development Scientist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.3% Female, 40.7% | Male, 65.7% Female, 34.3% |
| 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, 5.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 38.1% White, 43.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |