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Senior project scientist vs research scientist

The differences between senior project scientists and research 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 project scientist and a research scientist. Additionally, a senior project scientist has an average salary of $106,302, which is higher than the $89,998 average annual salary of a research scientist.

The top three skills for a senior project scientist include GIS, sample collection and OSHA. The most important skills for a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.

Senior project scientist vs research scientist overview

Senior Project ScientistResearch Scientist
Yearly salary$106,302$89,998
Hourly rate$51.11$43.27
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs48,95093,013
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

Senior project scientist vs research scientist salary

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

Senior Project ScientistResearch Scientist
Average salary$106,302$89,998
Salary rangeBetween $76,000 And $146,000Between $58,000 And $137,000
Highest paying CitySunnyvale, CAMenlo Park, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyAmazonLyft
Best paying industryRetail-

Differences between senior project scientist and research scientist education

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

Senior Project ScientistResearch Scientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common majorChemistryChemistry
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Senior project scientist vs research scientist demographics

Here are the differences between senior project scientists' and research scientists' demographics:

Senior Project ScientistResearch Scientist
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 78.5% Female, 21.5%Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 24.5% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 29.6% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between senior project scientist and research scientist duties and responsibilities

Senior project scientist example responsibilities.

  • Manage pediatric dose development project, technology transfer project and alternate API supplier qualification project on budget and on schedule
  • Complete health & safety and industrial hygiene oversight for excavation activities relate to utility installations at areas impact with hydrocarbons.
  • Produce ESA report maps utilizing AutoCAD skills.
  • Conduct research programs to identify new ingredients and new test methods to support product IP, consumer concepts and equity claims.
  • Provide technical and regulatory (NEPA) support for natural resources/aquatic environmental/biological projects.

Research scientist example responsibilities.

  • Manage the development of innovative visualization and concept mapping of contest environment analysis challenges and analyst skill sets.
  • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
  • Used real-time PCR and DNA sequencing to troubleshoot and validate SNP base and gene expression assays.
  • Prepare clear technical presentations to NIH department heads in annual seminars.
  • Analyze chromatin dynamics during primordial germ cell specification with a CRISPR mouse model.
  • Identify impurities in final drug by LCMS and reject impurities with ethanol/water swish.
  • Show more

Senior project scientist vs research scientist skills

Common senior project scientist skills
  • GIS, 14%
  • Sample Collection, 12%
  • OSHA, 12%
  • R, 10%
  • Site Assessments, 9%
  • Phase II, 7%
Common research scientist skills
  • Python, 11%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Patients, 6%
  • C++, 6%
  • Research Projects, 6%
  • Chemistry, 5%

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