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The differences between research geologists and postdoctoral research associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a research geologist, becoming a postdoctoral research associate takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a research geologist has an average salary of $116,391, which is higher than the $52,785 average annual salary of a postdoctoral research associate.
The top three skills for a research geologist include GIS, geological survey and R. The most important skills for a postdoctoral research associate are python, research projects, and chemistry.
| Research Geologist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $116,391 | $52,785 |
| Hourly rate | $55.96 | $25.38 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 45,501 | 59,377 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
Research geologists and postdoctoral research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Geologist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $116,391 | $52,785 |
| Salary range | Between $81,000 And $166,000 | Between $38,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Midland, TX | Memphis, TN |
| Highest paying state | Texas | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Exxon Mobil | Argonne National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between a research geologist and a postdoctoral research associate in terms of educational background:
| Research Geologist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Geology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Duke University |
Here are the differences between research geologists' and postdoctoral research associates' demographics:
| Research Geologist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.9% Female, 22.1% | Male, 65.7% Female, 34.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 0.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.4% Asian, 5.6% White, 81.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 38.1% White, 43.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 8% |