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Senior chemist vs associate scientist

The differences between senior chemists and associate scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior chemist has an average salary of $91,008, which is higher than the $76,461 average annual salary of an associate scientist.

The top three skills for a senior chemist include method development, laboratory equipment and HPLC. The most important skills for an associate scientist are chemistry, patients, and cell culture.

Senior chemist vs associate scientist overview

Senior ChemistAssociate Scientist
Yearly salary$91,008$76,461
Hourly rate$43.75$36.76
Growth rate6%17%
Number of jobs12,82354,950
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age4241
Years of experience-4

What does a senior chemist do?

Senior Chemists are responsible for designing, developing, and testing formulations and compounds. They also maintain and troubleshoot laboratory equipment and relevant documentation.

What does an associate scientist do?

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.

Senior chemist vs associate scientist salary

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

Senior ChemistAssociate Scientist
Average salary$91,008$76,461
Salary rangeBetween $67,000 And $123,000Between $53,000 And $109,000
Highest paying CityFremont, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateVermontCalifornia
Best paying companyGooglePhillips 66
Best paying industryManufacturingManufacturing

Differences between senior chemist and associate scientist education

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

Senior ChemistAssociate Scientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorChemistryBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of Southern California

Senior chemist vs associate scientist demographics

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

Senior ChemistAssociate Scientist
Average age4241
Gender ratioMale, 67.6% Female, 32.4%Male, 48.6% Female, 51.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 22.3% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%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 Percentage5%8%

Differences between senior chemist and associate scientist duties and responsibilities

Senior chemist example responsibilities.

  • Manage an analytical laboratory, which include SEM-EDS, GC-MS, GPC, FT-IR, ICP-MS, TGA and DSC equipment.
  • Conduct GC-MS, TGA, and FTIR, UV/Vis spectroscopic analysis of extractables and elemental impurities.
  • Develop Simethicone assay method by FT-IR in liquid dosage.
  • Used EPA methods for actinide, technetium, strontium, and tritium determination.
  • Prepare submission documentation, including CMC sections, for IDE and PMA submissions.
  • Supervise mobile lab team of analysts at various EPA super fund site locations for PCB and halo-hydrocarbons analysis testing.
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Associate scientist example responsibilities.

  • Manage study protocols and study conduct, intimately involve in the toxicology and pharmacokinetic study protocol development process.
  • Generate crispr knockout STAT1, STAT3 and STAT1 & 3double knockout cell lines.
  • Use CRISPR technology to create target knockout cell line.
  • Direct ISO 9000 4.10 team registration activities and perform internal audits.
  • Prepare stock reagents and buffers for use in manufacturing assay kits.
  • Confirm the quality of product meet specifications according to cGMP and ICH guidelines.
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Senior chemist vs associate scientist skills

Common senior chemist skills
  • Method Development, 8%
  • Laboratory Equipment, 6%
  • HPLC, 5%
  • Analytical Methods, 5%
  • R, 4%
  • GMP, 4%
Common associate scientist skills
  • Chemistry, 9%
  • Patients, 8%
  • Cell Culture, 5%
  • Data Analysis, 5%
  • GMP, 4%
  • Lab Equipment, 3%

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