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The differences between scientists and associate scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a scientist and an associate scientist. Additionally, a scientist has an average salary of $97,344, which is higher than the $76,461 average annual salary of an associate scientist.
The top three skills for a scientist include chemistry, data analysis and patients. The most important skills for an associate scientist are chemistry, patients, and cell culture.
| Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $97,344 | $76,461 |
| Hourly rate | $46.80 | $36.76 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 62,467 | 54,950 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A scientist is responsible for researching and analyzing the nature and complexities of the physical world to identify discoveries that would improve people's lives and ignite scientific knowledge for society. Scientists' duties differ in their different areas of expertise, but all of them must have a broad comprehension of scientific disciplines and methods to support their experiments and investigations. They collect the sample for their research, record findings, create research proposals, and release publications. A scientist must know how to utilize laboratory equipment to support the study and drive results efficiently and accurately.
An Associate Scientist assists in various experiments and research, working under the direction of a lead scientist. Their specialties may include biological life sciences, geo-science, atmospheric physics, and computing.
Scientists and associate scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Average salary | $97,344 | $76,461 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $140,000 | Between $53,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | Phillips 66 |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a scientist and an associate scientist in terms of educational background:
| Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between scientists' and associate scientists' demographics:
| Scientist | Associate Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1% | Male, 48.6% Female, 51.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |