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The differences between project scientists and associate 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 project scientist and an associate scientist. Additionally, a project scientist has an average salary of $79,073, which is higher than the $76,461 average annual salary of an associate scientist.
The top three skills for a project scientist include data analysis, research projects and oversight. The most important skills for an associate scientist are chemistry, patients, and cell culture.
| Project Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $79,073 | $76,461 |
| Hourly rate | $38.02 | $36.76 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 53,045 | 54,950 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Project Scientist is responsible for conducting tests and evaluations of existing products and reporting the findings. The industries they may work in include textiles technology, polymer technology, chemical sciences, and chemical engineering.
An Associate Scientist assists in various experiments and research, working under the direction of a lead scientist. Their specialties may include biological life sciences, geo-science, atmospheric physics, and computing.
Project scientists and associate scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Average salary | $79,073 | $76,461 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $110,000 | Between $53,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Farmington, CT | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Phillips 66 |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a project scientist and an associate scientist in terms of educational background:
| Project Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Environmental Science | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between project scientists' and associate scientists' demographics:
| Project Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.0% Female, 32.0% | Male, 48.6% Female, 51.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 26.2% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |