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Senior associate scientist vs research chemist

The differences between senior associate scientists and research chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior associate scientist has an average salary of $90,208, which is higher than the $75,843 average annual salary of a research chemist.

The top three skills for a senior associate scientist include data analysis, chemistry and cell culture. The most important skills for a research chemist are laboratory equipment, method development, and R.

Senior associate scientist vs research chemist overview

Senior Associate ScientistResearch Chemist
Yearly salary$90,208$75,843
Hourly rate$43.37$36.46
Growth rate17%6%
Number of jobs47,74253,769
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4142
Years of experience4-

What does a senior associate scientist do?

A Senior Associate Scientist supervises the work of associate scientists. They manage the design and implementation process of a research project, which includes analyzing information for that project.

What does a research chemist do?

A research chemist specializes in conducting studies and experiments to develop new products. Their duties primarily focus on conducting research and assessments, gathering and analyzing chemical samples, developing ideas, conducting tests to study chemical reactions, maintaining records of all procedures, and utilizing previous studies. Their research findings can be used to create new medicines, enhance existing products, and lead to innovations. When it comes to employment, a research chemist may work for pharmaceutical companies, private laboratories, government agencies, and learning institutions.

Senior associate scientist vs research chemist salary

Senior associate scientists and research chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Associate ScientistResearch Chemist
Average salary$90,208$75,843
Salary rangeBetween $57,000 And $141,000Between $53,000 And $108,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAMcLean, VA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaVirginia
Best paying companyWorkdayBP America Inc
Best paying industryHealth CareEnergy

Differences between senior associate scientist and research chemist education

There are a few differences between a senior associate scientist and a research chemist in terms of educational background:

Senior Associate ScientistResearch Chemist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorChemistryChemistry
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Senior associate scientist vs research chemist demographics

Here are the differences between senior associate scientists' and research chemists' demographics:

Senior Associate ScientistResearch Chemist
Average age4142
Gender ratioMale, 52.7% Female, 47.3%Male, 68.5% Female, 31.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 25.8% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 22.2% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage8%5%

Differences between senior associate scientist and research chemist duties and responsibilities

Senior associate scientist example responsibilities.

  • Collaborate with automation engineers to automate creation of sequencing templates and to automate emulsion PCR reaction setup.
  • Manage study protocols and study conduct, intimately involve in the toxicology and pharmacokinetic study protocol development process.
  • Develop and validate quantitative HPLC and LC/MS methods for the measurement of parent drug and their metabolites according to GLP guidelines.
  • Optimize binding ELISA for use during phage screening.
  • Optimize procedures to extract RNA from bone taken from surgical procedures.
  • Culture primary (rat) and stem cell-derive neurons and extract RNA.
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Research chemist example responsibilities.

  • Manage the CDS and LIMS systems for the institute.
  • Manage and record experimental data with lab management software (LIMS).
  • Manage projects involving the development of GC/MS methods, particle collection systems, and Raman spectral database creation.
  • Characterize the particles using SEM, DSC, IR, and UV-Vis.
  • Identify sample structure using microscopy, crystallography, NMR, UV/VIS, GC and AAS.
  • Develop GC & FTIR instrumental methods of analysis to support quality of incoming raw materials to ensure quality of finish products.
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Senior associate scientist vs research chemist skills

Common senior associate scientist skills
  • Data Analysis, 8%
  • Chemistry, 7%
  • Cell Culture, 5%
  • CRISPR, 5%
  • Flow Cytometry, 4%
  • Oncology, 4%
Common research chemist skills
  • Laboratory Equipment, 10%
  • Method Development, 10%
  • R, 9%
  • HPLC, 5%
  • Analytical Chemistry, 5%
  • Polymer, 5%

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