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The differences between research and development scientists and chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a research and development scientist has an average salary of $90,278, which is higher than the $64,961 average annual salary of a chemist.
The top three skills for a research and development scientist include R, patients and data analysis. The most important skills for a chemist are chemistry, lab equipment, and test results.
| Research And Development Scientist | Chemist | |
| Yearly salary | $90,278 | $64,961 |
| Hourly rate | $43.40 | $31.23 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 129,803 | 20,221 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
A research and development scientist specializes in conducting scientific studies and experiments to develop new products and technologies. They usually work at laboratories where they are in charge of conducting research and assessments, coming up with new ideas, performing tests, streamlining product requirements and guidelines, collaborating with fellow experts, utilizing previous studies and advanced software, and maintaining records of all procedures. Additionally, as a research and development scientist, it is essential to conduct reviews and assessments to ensure products adhere to safety standards and regulations.
Chemists are generally responsible for observing and investigating chemical substances to create new and safe compounds essential for practical applications. They are often grouped depending on a particular area of specialization to focus and understand the complexities of the matter. A chemist usually takes time performing research and conducting experiments to test and further improve the quality and usage of a specific chemical substance. Chemists are expected to write on their observations and findings to establish scientific results.
Research and development scientists and chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research And Development Scientist | Chemist | |
| Average salary | $90,278 | $64,961 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $125,000 | Between $46,000 And $90,000 |
| Highest paying City | South San Francisco, CA | Wilmington, DE |
| Highest paying state | Tennessee | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a research and development scientist and a chemist in terms of educational background:
| Research And Development Scientist | Chemist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between research and development scientists' and chemists' demographics:
| Research And Development Scientist | Chemist | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.4% Female, 35.6% | Male, 59.6% Female, 40.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 18.2% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |