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The differences between product development scientists and senior chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior chemist has an average salary of $91,008, 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 senior chemist are method development, laboratory equipment, and HPLC.
| Product Development Scientist | Senior Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $84,817 | $91,008 |
| Hourly rate | $40.78 | $43.75 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 147,027 | 12,823 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| 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.
Senior Chemists are responsible for designing, developing, and testing formulations and compounds. They also maintain and troubleshoot laboratory equipment and relevant documentation.
Product development scientists and senior chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Development Scientist | Senior Chemist | |
| Average salary | $84,817 | $91,008 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $115,000 | Between $67,000 And $123,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Amazon | |
| Best paying industry | Education | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a product development scientist and a senior chemist in terms of educational background:
| Product Development Scientist | Senior Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between product development scientists' and senior chemists' demographics:
| Product Development Scientist | Senior Chemist | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.3% Female, 40.7% | Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4% |
| 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, 9.3% Asian, 22.3% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |