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The differences between product development 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 product development scientist and a research scientist. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, which is higher than the $84,817 average annual salary of a product development scientist.
The top three skills for a product development scientist include chemistry, project management and data analysis. The most important skills for a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Product Development Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $84,817 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $40.78 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 147,027 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| 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.
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.
Product development scientists and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Development Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $84,817 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $115,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a product development scientist and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Product Development Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between product development scientists' and research scientists' demographics:
| Product Development Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.3% Female, 40.7% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| 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, 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% |