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The differences between production 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 $77,464 average annual salary of a production scientist.
The top three skills for a production scientist include process improvement, QC and lab equipment. The most important skills for a senior chemist are method development, laboratory equipment, and HPLC.
| Production Scientist | Senior Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $77,464 | $91,008 |
| Hourly rate | $37.24 | $43.75 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 100,301 | 12,823 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
A production scientist analyzes production operations and manufacturing processes to identify gaps, modify current procedures that would increase process efficiency, and maximize optimal performance. Production scientists inspect the tools and materials utilized for the production and oversee research trials for process formulations. They also develop opportunities and design models that support business functions, generating more innovation and increasing more revenue resources for the business. A production scientist writes research findings, manages resources, and determines various process feasibility.
Senior Chemists are responsible for designing, developing, and testing formulations and compounds. They also maintain and troubleshoot laboratory equipment and relevant documentation.
Production scientists and senior chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Production Scientist | Senior Chemist | |
| Average salary | $77,464 | $91,008 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $124,000 | Between $67,000 And $123,000 |
| Highest paying City | South San Francisco, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Beckman Coulter | |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a production scientist and a senior chemist in terms of educational background:
| Production Scientist | Senior Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between production scientists' and senior chemists' demographics:
| Production Scientist | Senior Chemist | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% | Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 23.3% White, 57.1% 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% |