Senior laboratory scientist vs scientist

The differences between senior laboratory scientists and 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 laboratory scientist and a scientist. Additionally, a scientist has an average salary of $97,344, which is higher than the $88,562 average annual salary of a senior laboratory scientist.

The top three skills for a senior laboratory scientist include GMP, FDA and cell culture. The most important skills for a scientist are chemistry, data analysis, and patients.

Senior laboratory scientist vs scientist overview

	Senior Laboratory Scientist	Scientist
Yearly salary	$88,562	$97,344
Hourly rate	$42.58	$46.80
Growth rate	17%	17%
Number of jobs	77,364	62,467
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 69%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age	41	41
Years of experience	4	4

Senior laboratory scientist vs scientist salary

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

	Senior Laboratory Scientist	Scientist
Average salary	$88,562	$97,344
Salary range	Between $61,000 And $128,000	Between $67,000 And $140,000
Highest paying City	-	Redwood City, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Airbnb
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between senior laboratory scientist and scientist education

There are a few differences between a senior laboratory scientist and a scientist in terms of educational background:

	Senior Laboratory Scientist	Scientist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 69%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common major	Chemistry	Chemistry
Most common college	Duke University	University of Southern California

Senior laboratory scientist vs scientist demographics

Here are the differences between senior laboratory scientists' and scientists' demographics:

	Senior Laboratory Scientist	Scientist
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 75.0% Female, 25.0%	Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 26.5% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%	Black 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%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between senior laboratory scientist and scientist duties and responsibilities

Senior laboratory scientist example responsibilities.

Manage study protocols and study conduct, intimately involve in the toxicology and pharmacokinetic study protocol development process.
Enter results into LIMS database.
Generate reports and deliver of presentations to support submissions to FDA.
Establish quantitative, proprietary method for measurement of menstrual blood loss (now register with FDA).
Key activities include process chemistry development, synthesis of intermediates, compound purification and structure identification, and comprehensive scientific documentation.
Interpret metabolism data and review reports to support strategies forward thinking with a specialization in drug metabolism and metabolic enzymes.

Scientist example responsibilities.

Lead a cross-functional team to return an HIV combination product to market on random-access instrument.
Design the VERIS HIV-1 quantitative PCR assay which achieve Conformit Europ enne (CE) marking.
Manage an elemental analytical laboratory that include operating, maintaining and troubleshooting an ICP-OES, ICPMS, MXRF, and IC.
Develop and manage third party claim investigations and contractor remedial oversight for various insurance companies.
Manage study protocols and study conduct, intimately involve in the toxicology and pharmacokinetic study protocol development process.
Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.

Senior laboratory scientist vs scientist skills

Common senior laboratory scientist skills

GMP, 9%
FDA, 9%
Cell Culture, 9%
Analytical Methods, 7%
R, 6%
Method Development, 6%

Common scientist skills

Chemistry, 9%
Data Analysis, 7%
Patients, 7%
Molecular Biology, 4%
Cell Culture, 4%
Java, 3%

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Senior Laboratory Scientist
Senior Laboratory Scientist vs Scientist

Updated January 8, 2025

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