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The differences between research laboratory managers and scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a research laboratory manager and a scientist. Additionally, a scientist has an average salary of $97,344, which is higher than the $64,333 average annual salary of a research laboratory manager.
The top three skills for a research laboratory manager include lab equipment, research projects and lab safety. The most important skills for a scientist are chemistry, data analysis, and patients.
| Research Laboratory Manager | Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $64,333 | $97,344 |
| Hourly rate | $30.93 | $46.80 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 89,981 | 62,467 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Research laboratory managers are management professionals who are responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of laboratories by implementing safety lab procedures. These managers are required to coordinate the repair and maintenance of lab equipment while training lab technicians and assistants on the correct use of equipment. They must perform experimental studies and analyze the research data collected for research projects. Research laboratory managers must also manage the inventory of laboratory equipment while coordinating the purchase of lab supplies.
A scientist is responsible for researching and analyzing the nature and complexities of the physical world to identify discoveries that would improve people's lives and ignite scientific knowledge for society. Scientists' duties differ in their different areas of expertise, but all of them must have a broad comprehension of scientific disciplines and methods to support their experiments and investigations. They collect the sample for their research, record findings, create research proposals, and release publications. A scientist must know how to utilize laboratory equipment to support the study and drive results efficiently and accurately.
Research laboratory managers and scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Laboratory Manager | Scientist | |
| Average salary | $64,333 | $97,344 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $91,000 | Between $67,000 And $140,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a research laboratory manager and a scientist in terms of educational background:
| Research Laboratory Manager | Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between research laboratory managers' and scientists' demographics:
| Research Laboratory Manager | Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.2% Female, 54.8% | Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |