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The differences between research scientists and senior research associates 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 senior research associate takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, which is higher than the $72,618 average annual salary of a senior research associate.
The top three skills for a research scientist include python, data analysis and patients. The most important skills for a senior research associate are patients, data analysis, and CRISPR.
| Research Scientist | Senior Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $89,998 | $72,618 |
| Hourly rate | $43.27 | $34.91 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 93,013 | 58,903 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| 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 Senior Research Associate works closely with research team members to implement research ideas. They diagnose, solve system/software problems, and install application software according to research needs.
Research scientists and senior research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Scientist | Senior Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $89,998 | $72,618 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $137,000 | Between $51,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Lyft | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a research scientist and a senior research associate in terms of educational background:
| Research Scientist | Senior Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between research scientists' and senior research associates' demographics:
| Research Scientist | Senior Research Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% | Male, 53.6% Female, 46.4% |
| 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, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 13.4% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |