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The differences between research physicists and research engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a research physicist and a research engineer. Additionally, a research engineer has an average salary of $96,945, which is higher than the $74,663 average annual salary of a research physicist.
The top three skills for a research physicist include data analysis, laser and python. The most important skills for a research engineer are python, java, and software development.
| Research Physicist | Research Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $74,663 | $96,945 |
| Hourly rate | $35.90 | $46.61 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 46,060 | 136,763 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A research physicist's job is to conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories based on observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories. Their duties and responsibilities include describing observations, developing simulations, and advising authorities on procedures to be followed.
Research Engineers are responsible for a wide range of duties, including researching and developing new technologies and prototypes, and finding solutions to improve techniques, procedures, and technologies.
Research physicists and research engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Physicist | Research Engineer | |
| Average salary | $74,663 | $96,945 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $107,000 | Between $67,000 And $138,000 |
| Highest paying City | Coram, NY | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Sandia National Labs | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a research physicist and a research engineer in terms of educational background:
| Research Physicist | Research Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Physics | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between research physicists' and research engineers' demographics:
| Research Physicist | Research Engineer | |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.4% Female, 14.6% | Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 10.8% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.9% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 24% | 5% |