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The differences between quality control analysts and research chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a research chemist has an average salary of $75,843, which is higher than the $59,217 average annual salary of a quality control analyst.
The top three skills for a quality control analyst include QC, lab equipment and microbiology. The most important skills for a research chemist are laboratory equipment, method development, and R.
| Quality Control Analyst | Research Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $59,217 | $75,843 |
| Hourly rate | $28.47 | $36.46 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 85,546 | 53,769 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 38 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Quality assurance representatives are professionals who are responsible for ensuring the quality of units produced or manufactured is following the standards set by the industry. These representatives supervise the entire production process to identify erroneous methods or tools being used by workers and observing produced for visible defects. They are required to perform various tests to check for the durability of the product and other desirable characteristics. Quality assurance representatives must also collaborate with the manufacturing engineer to implement quality control programs and preparing training manuals and quality guidelines.
A research chemist specializes in conducting studies and experiments to develop new products. Their duties primarily focus on conducting research and assessments, gathering and analyzing chemical samples, developing ideas, conducting tests to study chemical reactions, maintaining records of all procedures, and utilizing previous studies. Their research findings can be used to create new medicines, enhance existing products, and lead to innovations. When it comes to employment, a research chemist may work for pharmaceutical companies, private laboratories, government agencies, and learning institutions.
Quality control analysts and research chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Control Analyst | Research Chemist | |
| Average salary | $59,217 | $75,843 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $86,000 | Between $53,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Raleigh, NC | McLean, VA |
| Highest paying state | North Carolina | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Barclays | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between a quality control analyst and a research chemist in terms of educational background:
| Quality Control Analyst | Research Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between quality control analysts' and research chemists' demographics:
| Quality Control Analyst | Research Chemist | |
| Average age | 38 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.7% Female, 54.3% | Male, 68.5% Female, 31.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 12.8% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 22.2% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |