Do you need a Ph.D. to be a research scientist?

No, you do not need a Ph.D. to be a research scientist. However, it is highly recommended to possess, at a minimum, a bachelor's degree in a closely related field for most positions as a research scientist. Usually, a master's degree or a Ph.D. is preferred.

How long does it take to become a research scientist?

It takes about six to ten years to become a research scientist. Most research scientists have a Ph.D., which takes about four to five years to complete on top of your bachelor's degree, which takes four years to complete.

What degree do you need to become a researcher?

The degree you need to become a researcher is a doctorate in the field you'd like to research. In some cases, a researcher can have just a master's degree and several years of work experience, depending on the industry.

What does a research scientist do daily?

What a research scientist does daily are laboratory-based experiments and trials. You can find research scientists in various fields, including medicine, political science, biology, chemistry, computer science, and environmental science.

What is a research scientist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Betsy Smith,

Daniel Patten Ph.D.

A research scientist conducts scientific experiments and research to discover new knowledge or improve existing theories. They work in various fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Research scientists conduct experiments, analyze data, and interpret findings to develop hypotheses and theories. They collaborate with other scientists to share knowledge and expertise, publish papers and articles, and present their research. Research scientists also contribute to the development of new technologies and applications that can benefit society.

What general advice would you give to a research scientist?

Dr. Betsy Smith

Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Elmira College

I would advise students just graduating to be flexible and open-minded in their job search. Chemistry is a challenging major, and students who succeed in it have learned how to learn, so they shouldn't assume that pure chemistry is the only thing they can do. One growing field is biomedical research, and chemistry majors are often qualified for jobs in that area. If you have other strengths, like writing, there are often jobs that can combine them as a technical writer or work for a science journal. There are jobs out there that might be perfect for you that you haven't heard of until you see an ad for it, so be open to different possibilities.

ScoreResearch ScientistUS Average

Salary

7.0

Avg. Salary $89,998

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.3

Growth rate 17%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.15%

Asian 29.61%

Black or African American 6.17%

Hispanic or Latino 9.36%

Unknown 4.04%

White 50.67%

Gender

female 37.55%

male 62.45%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

6.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.7

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a research scientist?

Pros

Opportunity to make significant contributions to scientific knowledge
Potential for high salary and job security
Possibility of travel to conferences and other research institutions
Personal and professional growth and development
Satisfaction of seeing your research translate into real-world applications

Cons

Long and irregular work hours, including nights and weekends
High competition for funding and positions
Pressure to publish and maintain productivity
Limited opportunities for upward mobility or promotion within academia
High levels of stress and pressure to meet deadlines and expectations

Key steps to become a research scientist

Explore research scientist education requirements

Most common research scientist degrees

Bachelor's

51.7 %

Doctorate

25.3 %

Master's

19.7 %

Start to develop specific research scientist skills

Skills	Percentages
Python	10.73%
Data Analysis	6.47%
Patients	6.10%
C++	6.07%
Research Projects	5.89%

Complete relevant research scientist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New research scientists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a research scientist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real research scientist resumes.

Research research scientist duties and responsibilities

Manage the development of innovative visualization and concept mapping of contest environment analysis challenges and analyst skill sets.
Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
Used real-time PCR and DNA sequencing to troubleshoot and validate SNP base and gene expression assays.
Prepare clear technical presentations to NIH department heads in annual seminars.

Prepare your research scientist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your research scientist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a research scientist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable research scientist resume templates

Build a professional research scientist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your research scientist resume.

Apply for research scientist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a research scientist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do research scientists rate their job?

3/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Research scientist reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

Exploring more about reseaching field by building knowledge in a certain subject of research and growing the wisdom and knowledge.

Cons

The struggle of not breaking a certain research topic.

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

It's all about getting data, follow up on project, ensuring that jobs are done properly, write reports after a project is done. You travel if the job or project you're handling is out station.

Cons

Nothing really, it's just that sometimes getting data can be very difficult

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019

Pros

What I like is that,you get to interact with different people from various communities.Relationships are formed in the process

What is a research scientist and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a research scientist?

What are the pros and cons of being a research scientist?

Research scientist career paths

Key steps to become a research scientist

Explore research scientist education requirements

Most common research scientist degrees

Start to develop specific research scientist skills

Complete relevant research scientist training and internships

Research research scientist duties and responsibilities

Prepare your research scientist resume

Choose from 10+ customizable research scientist resume templates

Apply for research scientist jobs

How did you land your first research scientist job

Average research scientist salary

How do research scientists rate their job?

Research scientist reviews

Research scientist FAQs

Do you need a Ph.D. to be a research scientist?

How long does it take to become a research scientist?

What degree do you need to become a researcher?

What does a research scientist do daily?

Search for research scientist jobs

Research scientist jobs by state