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Senior clinical scientist vs associate scientist

The differences between senior clinical scientists and associate scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a senior clinical scientist and an associate scientist. Additionally, a senior clinical scientist has an average salary of $124,181, which is higher than the $76,461 average annual salary of an associate scientist.

The top three skills for a senior clinical scientist include informed consent, patients and clinical pharmacology. The most important skills for an associate scientist are chemistry, patients, and cell culture.

Senior clinical scientist vs associate scientist overview

Senior Clinical ScientistAssociate Scientist
Yearly salary$124,181$76,461
Hourly rate$59.70$36.76
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs96,94054,950
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

What does a senior clinical scientist do?

Senior clinical scientists are lead professionals who manage laboratory-based scientists that analyze physiology samples and the interpretation of results that are obtained from diagnostic tests. These scientists must possess scientific knowledge that may help to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases. They are required to collaborate with doctors and other medical staff to interpret test results while identifying suitable treatments for patients. Senior clinical scientists must also present study reports of all their clinical trials and executive project summaries to the senior team.

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 clinical scientist vs associate scientist salary

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

Senior Clinical ScientistAssociate Scientist
Average salary$124,181$76,461
Salary rangeBetween $97,000 And $158,000Between $53,000 And $109,000
Highest paying CityIndianapolis, INSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companyCalifornia ResourcesPhillips 66
Best paying industryEnergyManufacturing

Differences between senior clinical scientist and associate scientist education

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

Senior Clinical ScientistAssociate Scientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorNursingBiology
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of Southern California

Senior clinical scientist vs associate scientist demographics

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

Senior Clinical ScientistAssociate Scientist
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 33.3% Female, 66.7%Male, 48.6% Female, 51.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 24.4% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%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 Percentage8%8%

Differences between senior clinical scientist and associate scientist duties and responsibilities

Senior clinical scientist example responsibilities.

  • Prepare and manage annual budgets and subcontracts for various NIH fund projects.
  • Manage CROs and external investigators.
  • Manage pediatric dose development project, technology transfer project and alternate API supplier qualification project on budget and on schedule
  • Review datasets, TLG and documentations for NDA submissions.
  • Respond to FDA questions regarding PMA submission as subject matter expert.
  • Team lead for enabling data interoperability and system functions to meet regulatory requirements (FDA).
  • Show more

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.
  • Show more

Senior clinical scientist vs associate scientist skills

Common senior clinical scientist skills
  • Informed Consent, 16%
  • Patients, 14%
  • Clinical Pharmacology, 4%
  • Clinical Operations, 4%
  • Regulatory Agencies, 3%
  • Patient Care, 3%
Common associate scientist skills
  • Chemistry, 9%
  • Patients, 8%
  • Cell Culture, 5%
  • Data Analysis, 5%
  • GMP, 4%
  • Lab Equipment, 3%

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