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Senior development scientist vs associate scientist

The differences between senior development 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 development scientist and an associate scientist. Additionally, a senior development scientist has an average salary of $102,262, which is higher than the $76,461 average annual salary of an associate scientist.

The top three skills for a senior development scientist include GMP, data analysis and technical reports. The most important skills for an associate scientist are chemistry, patients, and cell culture.

Senior development scientist vs associate scientist overview

Senior Development ScientistAssociate Scientist
Yearly salary$102,262$76,461
Hourly rate$49.16$36.76
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs93,48154,950
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

What does a senior development scientist do?

The job of a senior development scientist revolves around product development, ensuring that the product will pass every stage of the process from design to delivery. You will oversee and guide the product development team in designing and testing new products and collecting and analyzing data needed for product release. As the senior product development scientist, you are expected to uphold all rules and regulations during production and development and ensure staff members adhere to safety protocols. You will also work closely with other departments, such as quality assurance and external consultants.

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 development scientist vs associate scientist salary

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

Senior Development ScientistAssociate Scientist
Average salary$102,262$76,461
Salary rangeBetween $74,000 And $140,000Between $53,000 And $109,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateTennesseeCalifornia
Best paying companyAmazonPhillips 66
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalManufacturing

Differences between senior development scientist and associate scientist education

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

Senior Development ScientistAssociate Scientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorChemistryBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Senior development scientist vs associate scientist demographics

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

Senior Development ScientistAssociate Scientist
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 71.7% Female, 28.3%Male, 48.6% Female, 51.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% 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 development scientist and associate scientist duties and responsibilities

Senior development scientist example responsibilities.

  • Manage method validations and sample analysis for pre-clinical GLP studies.
  • Lead solvates diversity study of API to understand the mechanism of rejecting impurities by crystallization.
  • Manage formulating, packaging, distribution and QC of the PDAR, AoD and ABD product line in manufacturing environment.
  • Lead development of ELISA microplate assay for Cardiolipin antibodies
  • Work with quality department during production runs; assist QC with in-process HPLC.
  • Prepare regulatory submission package (CMC section) including reference standard, drug substance characterization and impurity characterization.
  • 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 development scientist vs associate scientist skills

Common senior development scientist skills
  • GMP, 8%
  • Data Analysis, 8%
  • Technical Reports, 5%
  • Analytical Methods, 5%
  • Method Development, 4%
  • Assay Development, 3%
Common associate scientist skills
  • Chemistry, 9%
  • Patients, 8%
  • Cell Culture, 5%
  • Data Analysis, 5%
  • GMP, 4%
  • Lab Equipment, 3%

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