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The differences between quality control chemists and research scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, which is higher than the $58,892 average annual salary of a quality control chemist.
The top three skills for a quality control chemist include QC, HPLC and lab equipment. The most important skills for a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Quality Control Chemist | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $58,892 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $28.31 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 90,467 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
A Quality Control Chemist uses chemistry lab skills to test and measure materials, usually in a manufacturing or pharmaceutical field. They analyze samples using scientific equipment, prepare study protocols, collect data, and identify and investigate abnormal test results.
The job of research scientists is to design, undertake, and analyze information from experiments, trials, and laboratory-based investigations. They usually perform experiments in different areas, including medical research, pharmacology, and geoscience. They have varied duties and responsibilities that include planning and carrying out experiments, conducting fieldwork, and overseeing junior staff members like the technicians. They are typically working for a government laboratory, an environmental agency, and other organizations. Many of these scientists also work in teams and support staff.
Quality control chemists and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Control Chemist | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $58,892 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $75,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | North Kingstown, RI | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | California |
| Best paying company | Hallstar | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a quality control chemist and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Quality Control Chemist | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between quality control chemists' and research scientists' demographics:
| Quality Control Chemist | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.5% Female, 43.5% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 21.4% White, 56.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 29.6% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 8% |