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Job outlook for senior assistant scientists in the United States
Are senior assistant scientist jobs in demand?
Senior assistant scientist job and salary trends over time
Senior assistant scientist jobs over time
Senior assistant scientist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,833 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,899 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,839 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 2,118 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 2,047 | 0.00% |
Average senior assistant scientist salary over time
Senior assistant scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $63,737 | $30.64 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | $62,039 | $29.83 | --3.0% |
| 2024 | $63,955 | $30.75 | +0.3% |
| 2023 | $63,782 | $30.66 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | $63,718 | $30.63 | +9.3% |
Senior assistant scientist jobs by state
Most common states for senior assistant scientists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 992 | 14% |
| 2 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 866 | 14% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 134 | 14% |
| 4 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,011 | 12% |
| 5 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 108 | 12% |
| 6 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 975 | 11% |
| 7 | Vermont | 623,657 | 68 | 11% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 136 | 10% |
| 9 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 76 | 10% |
| 10 | Alaska | 739,795 | 63 | 9% |
| 11 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 50 | 9% |
| 12 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 813 | 8% |
| 13 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 271 | 8% |
| 14 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 89 | 8% |
| 15 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 88 | 8% |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 898 | 7% |
| 17 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 271 | 7% |
| 18 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 205 | 7% |
| 19 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 153 | 7% |
| 20 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 91 | 7% |
Most common cities for senior assistant scientists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Rapids | 1 | 1% | $50,722 |
| 2 | New York | 1 | 0% | $67,682 |
Senior Assistant Scientist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior assistant scientist experts
Stephen F. Austin State University
Drexel University
University of New Hampshire
Rutgers University
Arizona State University
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Villanova University
California State University San Marcos
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Assistant Scientist job market given the pandemic?
Darrell Fry: Hiring among chemists and biochemists will remain stronger as compared to the average unemployment rate during the pandemic, in part because chemists and biochemists produce "essential" items. However, connecting with an employer will be more difficult. Traditional avenues for employers and potential employees to make contact, such as the biannual National American Chemical Society Meeting, have been radically changed during the pandemic. Moreover, travel for potential employees to the job site for an interview are problematic.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Senior Assistant Scientists?
Darrell Fry: Earning a degree from an University that takes time and effort to be accredited by either the American Chemical Society (ACS) and/or the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology(ASBMB) ensures the graduate will have marketable skills. Chemistry is a broad field, and there are numerous niches that a candidate can find; however, each niche has specialized skills. Younger chemists profit from being well read and having several mentors. Together, the candidate and their mentors, can build a marketable skill sets.
How have salaries changed over time for Senior Assistant Scientists?
Darrell Fry: According to the American Chemical Society (ACS) salary survey, salaries have increased over the past 15 years.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Senior Assistant Scientists?
Dr. Richard Knight Ph.D.: MSE majors, at least at Drexel, typically do not complete the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam while in college. In the last 5 or 6 years only one student has done this. Few graduating students enter into careers in the Product Liability or Expert Witness areas for which PE licensure would be necessary. A small number of students have taken classes relating to lean manufacturing/Six-Sigma techniques, which are increasingly important in industry.
A significant number of MSE majors do, however, pursue a broad range of minors in addition to their MSE major. Popular minors include Chemistry, Business, Nuclear Engineering, and other Engineering disciplines.
How have salaries changed over time for Senior Assistant Scientists?
Dr. Richard Knight Ph.D.: Starting salaries for MSE program graduates have increased steadily over time. Pandemic era starting salaries for 2020 and 2021 appear to be holding up reasonably well compared to previous years. For MSE majors who graduated in 2020, and for whom only their final term was impacted by the pandemic, more than 60% reported starting salaries in the $80-90k range. In contrast, MSE majors graduating in 2021, for whom the majority of their senior year was remote/online, and who already have a job, report starting salaries in the $75-80k range, somewhat lower. Over time, more packages include incentives such as signing bonuses, relocation expenses, assistance with finding accommodation, and competitive benefits packages.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Assistant Scientist job market given the pandemic?
Stephanie Whitney: I expect quite the rebound in civil engineering, especially if some sort of infrastructure bill gets passed.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Senior Assistant Scientists?
Stephanie Whitney: For our students, having the FE exam under their belt along with our ABET-accredited degree is key.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Assistant Scientist job market given the pandemic?
Jay Tischfield: In terms of the largest number of jobs, companies are hiring people familiar with medium and large-scale lab automation, quality assurance protocols and data
What technical skills for a Senior Assistant Scientist stand out to employers?
Jay Tischfield: Computational and data analysis skills. Quantitative analysis of biological data.
How have salaries changed over time for Senior Assistant Scientists?
Jay Tischfield: Salaries have increased for newish graduates with some experience.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Assistant Scientist job market given the pandemic?
Patricia Rankin: The pandemic has shown both the promise of remote work and the potential downsides. I anticipate that there will be more flexibility in the working arrangements in situations were this is possible (Zoom meetings will substitute for some meetings that formerly required travel, people may plan their working days to be on-site or off-site (home)). Some people may decide they want careers that allow this flexibility.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Senior Assistant Scientists?
Patricia Rankin: Experience with computing/computational physics is important (but also pretty standard for any physics degree). Work in a lab can help show ability to work independently/problem solve.
How have salaries changed over time for Senior Assistant Scientists?
Patricia Rankin: Salaries have been trending up - but there is a wide range and it depends on the level you look at e.g Bachelor's degrees or PhD's . If you have a PhD you earn more on average but the range is also larger (the AIP has some good statistics here e.g. https://www.aip.org/taxonomy/term/152 ). Physicists are generally at the higher end of pay scales and competitive with most engineering fields (not computer science). Physics graduates are problem solvers with excellent quantitative skills that puts them in high demand which helps protect salaries.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Assistant Scientists?
Paul Braun Ph.D.: In general no. The demands for highly educated workers remains strong, and while the details of the nature of the work may change, the demand for graduates with strong technical backgrounds remains robust.
What's a good job out of college for Senior Assistant Scientists?
Paul Braun Ph.D.: Most students in our major are able to find the career opportunities they desire.
What will help Senior Assistant Scientists increase their earning potential?
Paul Braun Ph.D.: A strong grounding in technology and the science underpinning technology is always important, as is the ability to lead teams of high performing individuals.
Dr. Joey Neilsen
Assistant ProfessorVillanova University
Physics Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Assistant Scientist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Joey Neilsen: I think the biggest trend is going to be that employers, whether in the private sector or in academia, are likely to be more selective. This means they will be looking for additional distinguishing factors beyond completion of a particular degree program, such as internships or research experience. At Villanova, we strongly encourage our students to get involved in our research: it's great for developing analytical and professional skills, but it also helps students build career networks that can turn into letters of recommendation or job prospects down the line. Given newer uncertainties in the market, I think students should make sure to take advantage of any research opportunities they can. But Physics majors generally have strong employment prospects, and roughly 95% of Physics Bachelor's degree recipients are employed one year after graduation, according to the American Institute of Physics.
What technical skills for a Senior Assistant Scientist stand out to employers?
Dr. Joey Neilsen: I think programming skills and data analysis/statistics are especially valuable right now, while data science is so big. Our students take a year of Computational Physics in Python, and we integrate Python into some of our upper-level courses and labs as well. Our recent graduates, both in academia and the private sector, report using those skills on a regular basis. Two other skills that US Physics graduates report using regularly are technical problem solving and technical writing. This makes lots of sense from an employer perspective: you want to hire people who can identify and solve problems and then clearly explain the solution to your team. This is a great reason to let those lab reports shine!
How have salaries changed over time for Senior Assistant Scientists?
Dr. Joey Neilsen: Salaries for new Physics graduates are rising fairly steadily. For example, US Physics majors from the class of 2013-2014 reported making between about $42,000 and about $65,000 per year while working in private sector STEM jobs (that's the middle 50% of salaries). For 2017-2018 (the most recent years where national data are available), that same range is more like $50,000 to $70,000 per year.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Assistant Scientists?
Jacqueline Trischman Ph.D.: The most important attribute companies are looking for in our graduates this year is adaptability. Students who have been successful in the classroom and lab AND in the Zoom environment are highly sought after in our local industries. In fact, our local life science economy is booming as we have test kits, antibody treatments, and vaccines all being manufactured in San Diego County. Graduates are expected to transition easily between working in a COVID-safe environment on-site and working productively at a home office. Being open to trying new ways of working, maintaining a positive attitude, and handling adversity well will all rise to more importance in interviews this year.