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The differences between project scientists and researchers 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 researcher. Additionally, a project scientist has an average salary of $79,073, which is higher than the $67,145 average annual salary of a researcher.
The top three skills for a project scientist include data analysis, research projects and oversight. The most important skills for a researcher are python, lab equipment, and C++.
| Project Scientist | Researcher | |
| Yearly salary | $79,073 | $67,145 |
| Hourly rate | $38.02 | $32.28 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 53,045 | 30,498 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| 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 researcher is responsible for collating, organizing, and verifying necessary information for a specific subject. Researchers' duties include analyzing data, gathering and comparing resources, ensuring facts, sharing findings with the whole research team, adhering to required methodologies, performing fieldwork as needed, and keeping critical information confidential. Researchers must be knowledgeable about the current market trends and align findings with the research goals. A researcher must show strong communication skills, as well as strong attention to detail and time-management skills to meet deadlines under minimal supervision.
Project scientists and researchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Scientist | Researcher | |
| Average salary | $79,073 | $67,145 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $110,000 | Between $37,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | Farmington, CT | Newark, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Renaissance Learning |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a project scientist and a researcher in terms of educational background:
| Project Scientist | Researcher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Environmental Science | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between project scientists' and researchers' demographics:
| Project Scientist | Researcher | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.0% Female, 32.0% | Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1% |
| 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, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |