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The differences between scientific directors and researchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a scientific director and a researcher. Additionally, a scientific director has an average salary of $116,045, which is higher than the $67,145 average annual salary of a researcher.
The top three skills for a scientific director include medical affairs, clinical development and clinical research. The most important skills for a researcher are python, lab equipment, and C++.
| Scientific Director | Researcher | |
| Yearly salary | $116,045 | $67,145 |
| Hourly rate | $55.79 | $32.28 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 7,592 | 30,498 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A scientific director is primarily in charge of spearheading and overseeing the researching programs in an institution, medical facility, or company. It is their duty to set goals and objectives, hire researchers and other experts, establish guidelines, liaise with sponsors and key personnel, and develop strategies to optimize laboratory procedures. Furthermore, as a scientific director, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the policies and regulations of the organization, including its vision and mission.
A researcher is responsible for collating, organizing, and verifying necessary information for a specific subject. Researchers' duties include analyzing data, gathering and comparing resources, ensuring facts, sharing findings with the whole research team, adhering to required methodologies, performing fieldwork as needed, and keeping critical information confidential. Researchers must be knowledgeable about the current market trends and align findings with the research goals. A researcher must show strong communication skills, as well as strong attention to detail and time-management skills to meet deadlines under minimal supervision.
Scientific directors and researchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Scientific Director | Researcher | |
| Average salary | $116,045 | $67,145 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $183,000 | Between $37,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | Newark, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Tennessee | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | Renaissance Learning |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | - |
There are a few differences between a scientific director and a researcher in terms of educational background:
| Scientific Director | Researcher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between scientific directors' and researchers' demographics:
| Scientific Director | Researcher | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.7% Female, 37.3% | Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 26.5% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |