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The differences between scientific writers and senior writers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a scientific writer and a senior writer. Additionally, a scientific writer has an average salary of $99,550, which is higher than the $80,145 average annual salary of a senior writer.
The top three skills for a scientific writer include IND, NDA and abstracts. The most important skills for a senior writer are project management, web content, and wordpress.
| Scientific Writer | Senior Writer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,550 | $80,145 |
| Hourly rate | $47.86 | $38.53 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 15,960 | 15,995 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 46 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Scientific writers are professionals who are responsible for conducting research and writing articles that are related to scientific topics for many different kinds of publications and scientific journals. These writers are required to conduct interviews with scientists and other important people to ensure accurate information about the essays they are writing. They must adapt and comply with in-house style guides as well as perform copy-editing and proofreading duties. Scientific writers must also build up a network of contacts with other professionals in the industry such as press officers, PR executives, and researchers.
A senior writer is responsible for assisting junior writers in creating compositions and digital content according to business functions and client needs. A senior writer should have excellent communication skills, both written and oral, as well as extensive knowledge of composition structures and developing engaging pieces to attract the target audience and potential clients, driving resources for revenue and profits. They also coordinate with clients on any adjustments and instructions to support their goals and objectives.
Scientific writers and senior writers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Scientific Writer | Senior Writer | |
| Average salary | $99,550 | $80,145 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $150,000 | Between $54,000 And $117,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, VA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | California |
| Best paying company | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Professional |
There are a few differences between a scientific writer and a senior writer in terms of educational background:
| Scientific Writer | Senior Writer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Biology | English |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between scientific writers' and senior writers' demographics:
| Scientific Writer | Senior Writer | |
| Average age | 46 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% | Male, 55.8% Female, 44.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 8.6% White, 72.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 4.9% White, 75.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 16% |