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Project scientist vs scientist

The differences between project scientists and 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 a scientist. Additionally, a scientist has an average salary of $97,344, which is higher than the $79,073 average annual salary of a project scientist.

The top three skills for a project scientist include data analysis, research projects and oversight. The most important skills for a scientist are chemistry, data analysis, and patients.

Project scientist vs scientist overview

Project ScientistScientist
Yearly salary$79,073$97,344
Hourly rate$38.02$46.80
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs53,04562,467
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

What does a project scientist do?

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.

What does a scientist do?

A scientist is responsible for researching and analyzing the nature and complexities of the physical world to identify discoveries that would improve people's lives and ignite scientific knowledge for society. Scientists' duties differ in their different areas of expertise, but all of them must have a broad comprehension of scientific disciplines and methods to support their experiments and investigations. They collect the sample for their research, record findings, create research proposals, and release publications. A scientist must know how to utilize laboratory equipment to support the study and drive results efficiently and accurately.

Project scientist vs scientist salary

Project scientists and scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Project ScientistScientist
Average salary$79,073$97,344
Salary rangeBetween $56,000 And $110,000Between $67,000 And $140,000
Highest paying CityFarmington, CTRedwood City, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutCalifornia
Best paying companyAmazonAirbnb
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between project scientist and scientist education

There are a few differences between a project scientist and a scientist in terms of educational background:

Project ScientistScientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorEnvironmental ScienceChemistry
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of Southern California

Project scientist vs scientist demographics

Here are the differences between project scientists' and scientists' demographics:

Project ScientistScientist
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 68.0% Female, 32.0%Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1%
Race ratioBlack 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, 9.8% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between project scientist and scientist duties and responsibilities

Project scientist example responsibilities.

  • Manage clearance sampling and responsible for final clearance readings and other duties as directed by EPA.
  • Manage the GIS data set and develop maps to support interim actions, the risk assessment, and the RI/FS.
  • Develop and manage company asbestos inspection program.
  • Develop and manage company EHS compliance processes in accordance with current and upcoming regulatory mandates.
  • Develop QC HPLC procedure for raw materials and finish products.
  • Perform RNA extraction, RT-PCR and qPCR to evaluate gene regulation on Bcl3 mutants.
  • Show more

Scientist example responsibilities.

  • Lead a cross-functional team to return an HIV combination product to market on random-access instrument.
  • Design the VERIS HIV-1 quantitative PCR assay which achieve Conformit Europ enne (CE) marking.
  • Manage an elemental analytical laboratory that include operating, maintaining and troubleshooting an ICP-OES, ICPMS, MXRF, and IC.
  • Develop and manage third party claim investigations and contractor remedial oversight for various insurance companies.
  • Manage study protocols and study conduct, intimately involve in the toxicology and pharmacokinetic study protocol development process.
  • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
  • Show more

Project scientist vs scientist skills

Common project scientist skills
  • Data Analysis, 10%
  • Research Projects, 9%
  • Oversight, 7%
  • Data Management, 6%
  • Technical Reports, 4%
  • EPA, 4%
Common scientist skills
  • Chemistry, 9%
  • Data Analysis, 7%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Molecular Biology, 4%
  • Cell Culture, 4%
  • Java, 3%

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