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The differences between product development scientists and staff 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 staff scientist. Additionally, a staff scientist has an average salary of $93,941, 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 staff scientist are data analysis, research projects, and molecular biology.
| Product Development Scientist | Staff Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $84,817 | $93,941 |
| Hourly rate | $40.78 | $45.16 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 147,027 | 121,054 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| 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 primary role of a Staff Scientist is to develop and manage scientific research projects with minimal supervision. They are also responsible for the technical and budgetary aspects of scientific research projects.
Product development scientists and staff scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Development Scientist | Staff Scientist | |
| Average salary | $84,817 | $93,941 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $115,000 | Between $63,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Etsy |
| Best paying industry | Education | Technology |
There are a few differences between a product development scientist and a staff scientist in terms of educational background:
| Product Development Scientist | Staff Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between product development scientists' and staff scientists' demographics:
| Product Development Scientist | Staff Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.3% Female, 40.7% | Male, 67.8% Female, 32.2% |
| 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, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 26.5% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |