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The differences between research physicists and research scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a research physicist, becoming a research scientist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, 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 scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Research Physicist | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $74,663 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $35.90 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 46,060 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
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.
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.
Research physicists and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Physicist | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $74,663 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $107,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Coram, NY | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Sandia National Labs | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a research physicist and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Research Physicist | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Physics | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between research physicists' and research scientists' demographics:
| Research Physicist | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.4% Female, 14.6% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| 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, 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 | 24% | 8% |