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The differences between research professors and principal research 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 professor and a principal research scientist. Additionally, a principal research scientist has an average salary of $127,191, which is higher than the $119,503 average annual salary of a research professor.
The top three skills for a research professor include research projects, public health and data collection. The most important skills for a principal research scientist are research projects, principal research, and data analysis.
| Research Professor | Principal Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $119,503 | $127,191 |
| Hourly rate | $57.45 | $61.15 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 59,502 | 126,911 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Research professors lead the research culture in their departments. In some cases, they will do less undergraduate teaching and focus more on teaching post-graduates. They also teach students at higher education institutions. They focus on their research activities that include presenting research findings at conferences worldwide. They are involved in initiatives working with private sectors and other public sector bodies. Part of their duties includes marking assessed work, attending planning meetings to ensure cross-departmental parity, and doing administrative tasks within the department.
Principal research scientists are responsible for designing and directing research laboratories, commencing new research activities, and searching for funding opportunities. Other duties include presenting proposals and attaining the terms of research grants and contracts, organizing, running, and reporting on original research, as well as constituting their research groups externally. These scientists usually propose, implement, and report a distinguished scientific program. The individuals appointed on this role may regularly serve as chief investigators on grants and contracts.
Research professors and principal research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Professor | Principal Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $119,503 | $127,191 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $212,000 | Between $87,000 And $184,000 |
| Highest paying City | Pasadena, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | New York University | |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a research professor and a principal research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Research Professor | Principal Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between research professors' and principal research scientists' demographics:
| Research Professor | Principal Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.4% Female, 37.6% | Male, 78.7% Female, 21.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |