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The differences between quality control scientists 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 $75,410 average annual salary of a quality control scientist.
The top three skills for a quality control scientist include QC, HPLC and dosage forms. The most important skills for a research chemist are laboratory equipment, method development, and R.
| Quality Control Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $75,410 | $75,843 |
| Hourly rate | $36.25 | $36.46 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 125,274 | 53,769 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 38 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A quality control scientist is responsible for performing an in-depth analysis of the goods and products from the manufacturing business related to medical or science industries, ensuring the quality of raw materials and resources used on the production. Quality control scientists inspect the features and specifications of the product, checking its adherence to high-quality standards and safe consumption. They also manage the cost-reduction techniques, creating comprehensive data reports from trend analysis. A quality control scientist may also inspect the equipment and machinery of the manufacturing to verify its efficiency and optimal performance during the production.
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 scientists and research chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Control Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Average salary | $75,410 | $75,843 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $112,000 | Between $53,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Brookhaven, NY | McLean, VA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Bristol-Myers Squibb | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between a quality control scientist and a research chemist in terms of educational background:
| Quality Control Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between quality control scientists' and research chemists' demographics:
| Quality Control Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Average age | 38 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.4% Female, 55.6% | Male, 68.5% Female, 31.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 15.7% White, 52.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | 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% |