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What is a scientist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Betsy Smith
introduction image

A scientist is a person who applies the scientific method to investigate and understand the natural world. They develop hypotheses, design experiments, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions. Scientists work across a wide range of disciplines, including biology, chemistry, physics, geology, and astronomy. They may work in academia, government agencies, or private industry. Their work can involve conducting experiments, analyzing data, writing research papers, and presenting findings.

What general advice would you give to a scientist?

Dr. Betsy SmithDr. Betsy Smith LinkedIn profile

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.
ScoreScientistUS Average
Salary
7.5

Avg. Salary $97,344

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 26.26%

Black or African American 6.51%

Hispanic or Latino 9.78%

Unknown 4.15%

White 53.16%

Gender

female 43.06%

male 56.94%

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 scientist?

Pros

  • Potential for high salary and job security

  • Flexibility in choosing research topics and projects

  • Collaborating with other scientists from diverse backgrounds

  • Fulfillment from making breakthrough discoveries

  • High job satisfaction

Cons

  • Highly competitive job market with limited job opportunities

  • Long hours and high pressure to produce results

  • Limited financial compensation for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers

  • Pressure to publish frequently in order to maintain viability in the field

  • Ethical dilemmas may arise in research, such as animal testing or the use of human subjects.

Scientist career paths

Key steps to become a scientist

  1. Explore scientist education requirements

    Most common scientist degrees

    Bachelor's

    60.4 %

    Master's

    18.8 %

    Doctorate

    16.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific scientist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Chemistry8.59%
    Data Analysis7.20%
    Patients6.95%
    Molecular Biology3.65%
    Cell Culture3.50%
  3. Complete relevant scientist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New 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 scientist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real scientist resumes.
  4. Research scientist duties and responsibilities

    • Lead a cross-functional team to return an HIV combination product to market on random-access instrument.
    • Design the VERIS HIV-1 quantitative PCR assay which achieve Conformit Europ enne (CE) marking.
    • Manage an elemental analytical laboratory that include operating, maintaining and troubleshooting an ICP-OES, ICPMS, MXRF, and IC.
    • Develop and manage third party claim investigations and contractor remedial oversight for various insurance companies.
  5. Prepare your scientist resume

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

    Build a professional 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 scientist resume.
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  6. Apply for scientist jobs

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

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

How did you land your first scientist job

Zippi

Are you a scientist?

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Average scientist salary

The average scientist salary in the United States is $97,344 per year or $47 per hour. Scientist salaries range between $67,000 and $140,000 per year.

Average scientist salary
$97,344 Yearly
$46.80 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do scientists rate their job?

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Scientist reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Cons

The struggle of not breaking a certain research topic.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019
Cons

I do not have a bachelor in chemistry but i do have a associate's in biology from the university of belize.


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A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019
Pros

Science of observation

Cons

Haven't gotten to that point yet! you are looking for a story that has yet left the summary


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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