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The differences between senior chemists and postdoctoral research associates 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 $52,785 average annual salary of a postdoctoral research associate.
The top three skills for a senior chemist include method development, laboratory equipment and HPLC. The most important skills for a postdoctoral research associate are python, research projects, and chemistry.
| Senior Chemist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $91,008 | $52,785 |
| Hourly rate | $43.75 | $25.38 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 12,823 | 59,377 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
Senior Chemists are responsible for designing, developing, and testing formulations and compounds. They also maintain and troubleshoot laboratory equipment and relevant documentation.
A postdoctoral research associate is responsible for assisting the educational institution's research department, writing research reports, analyzing research methods, and collecting information and related studies to support the research claims. Postdoctoral research associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, reporting research updates to the research head, performing adjustments as needed, and gaining more expertise on the subject by brainstorming and discussing strategic procedures for the study. They may also conduct field investigation or coordinate with other institutions for additional reference, depending on the research's scope and limitation.
Senior chemists and postdoctoral research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Chemist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $91,008 | $52,785 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $123,000 | Between $38,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Memphis, TN |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Argonne National Laboratory | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Professional |
There are a few differences between a senior chemist and a postdoctoral research associate in terms of educational background:
| Senior Chemist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Duke University |
Here are the differences between senior chemists' and postdoctoral research associates' demographics:
| Senior Chemist | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4% | Male, 65.7% Female, 34.3% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 5.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 38.1% White, 43.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 8% |