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The differences between quality control scientists 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 $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 scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Quality Control Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $75,410 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $36.25 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 125,274 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 38 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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.
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 scientists and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Quality Control Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $75,410 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $112,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Brookhaven, NY | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | Bristol-Myers Squibb | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a quality control scientist and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Quality Control Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between quality control scientists' and research scientists' demographics:
| Quality Control Scientist | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 38 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.4% Female, 55.6% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| 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, 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 | 8% | 8% |