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The differences between research scientists and professors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a research scientist, becoming a professor takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a professor has an average salary of $157,570, which is higher than the $89,998 average annual salary of a research scientist.
The top three skills for a research scientist include python, data analysis and patients. The most important skills for a professor are philosophy, curriculum development, and mathematics.
| Research Scientist | Professor | |
| Yearly salary | $89,998 | $157,570 |
| Hourly rate | $43.27 | $75.75 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 93,013 | 21,861 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 41 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
A professor is a teaching professional who provides instructions to students on various academic and vocational subjects in colleges, universities, and vocational schools. Professors design curriculums for courses and ensure that they meet college and department students. They continuously conduct research and experiments so that advanced knowledge in their field is completed. They share their research and works by publishing them in books and academic journals. They also provide assistance to graduating students.
Research scientists and professors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Scientist | Professor | |
| Average salary | $89,998 | $157,570 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $137,000 | Between $88,000 And $280,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Lyft | Oregon Health & Science University |
| Best paying industry | - | Education |
There are a few differences between a research scientist and a professor in terms of educational background:
| Research Scientist | Professor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Business |
| Most common college | Duke University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between research scientists' and professors' demographics:
| Research Scientist | Professor | |
| Average age | 41 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% | Male, 56.7% Female, 43.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 7.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 12.8% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 16% |