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The differences between project scientists and postdoctoral scholars 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 a postdoctoral scholar. Additionally, a project scientist has an average salary of $79,073, which is higher than the $57,587 average annual salary of a postdoctoral scholar.
The top three skills for a project scientist include data analysis, research projects and oversight. The most important skills for a postdoctoral scholar are chemistry, python, and patients.
| Project Scientist | Postdoctoral Scholar | |
| Yearly salary | $79,073 | $57,587 |
| Hourly rate | $38.02 | $27.69 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 53,045 | 18,983 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| 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.
A Postdoctoral Scholar is responsible for supporting an educational research group to conduct studies and gather relevant data to support study claims and scientific evidence. They review initial findings, perform field investigations, and interview the target respondents for data and statistical analysis. They also coordinate with the whole team for efficient research methods, ensuring adherence to budget limitations and required timetables. A Postdoctoral Scholar must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, to document reports and discuss results with the research team.
Project scientists and postdoctoral scholars have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Scientist | Postdoctoral Scholar | |
| Average salary | $79,073 | $57,587 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $110,000 | Between $41,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | Farmington, CT | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a project scientist and a postdoctoral scholar in terms of educational background:
| Project Scientist | Postdoctoral Scholar | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Environmental Science | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between project scientists' and postdoctoral scholars' demographics:
| Project Scientist | Postdoctoral Scholar | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.0% Female, 32.0% | Male, 53.0% Female, 47.0% |
| 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, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |