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Scientist vs quality control chemist

The differences between scientists and quality control chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a scientist has an average salary of $97,344, which is higher than the $58,892 average annual salary of a quality control chemist.

The top three skills for a scientist include chemistry, data analysis and patients. The most important skills for a quality control chemist are QC, HPLC, and lab equipment.

Scientist vs quality control chemist overview

ScientistQuality Control Chemist
Yearly salary$97,344$58,892
Hourly rate$46.80$28.31
Growth rate17%6%
Number of jobs62,46790,467
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Average age4142
Years of experience4-

What does a scientist do?

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.

What does a quality control chemist do?

A Quality Control Chemist uses chemistry lab skills to test and measure materials, usually in a manufacturing or pharmaceutical field. They analyze samples using scientific equipment, prepare study protocols, collect data, and identify and investigate abnormal test results.

Scientist vs quality control chemist salary

Scientists and quality control chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.

ScientistQuality Control Chemist
Average salary$97,344$58,892
Salary rangeBetween $67,000 And $140,000Between $45,000 And $75,000
Highest paying CityRedwood City, CANorth Kingstown, RI
Highest paying stateCaliforniaVermont
Best paying companyAirbnbHallstar
Best paying industryTechnologyManufacturing

Differences between scientist and quality control chemist education

There are a few differences between a scientist and a quality control chemist in terms of educational background:

ScientistQuality Control Chemist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Most common majorChemistryChemistry
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Scientist vs quality control chemist demographics

Here are the differences between scientists' and quality control chemists' demographics:

ScientistQuality Control Chemist
Average age4142
Gender ratioMale, 56.9% Female, 43.1%Male, 56.5% Female, 43.5%
Race ratioBlack 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, 7.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 21.4% White, 56.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage8%5%

Differences between scientist and quality control chemist duties and responsibilities

Scientist example 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.
  • Manage study protocols and study conduct, intimately involve in the toxicology and pharmacokinetic study protocol development process.
  • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
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Quality control chemist example responsibilities.

  • Manage investigations of out of spec results and complaints in CatsWEB CAPA management system.
  • Verify raw material compliance utilizing ICP, FTIR, and USP wet chemistry methods.
  • Perform analysis utilizing UV/VIS, FTIR, Karl Fischer, and TLC.
  • Perform the potency studies, dissolution, and uniformity, by using HPLC, GC, and UV/VIS.
  • Analyze active ingredients in sunscreens, volatile organics, and preservatives utilizing ICP, GC, NIRS, and HPLC.
  • Execute dissolution and disintegration testing and microbiology testing with compliance requirements within GMP, GLP, and FDA regulatory environments.
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Scientist vs quality control chemist skills

Common scientist skills
  • Chemistry, 9%
  • Data Analysis, 7%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Molecular Biology, 4%
  • Cell Culture, 4%
  • Java, 3%
Common quality control chemist skills
  • QC, 9%
  • HPLC, 7%
  • Lab Equipment, 7%
  • GMP, 6%
  • Analytical Methods, 5%
  • UV/Vis, 4%

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