Senior research chemist vs environmental chemist

The differences between senior research chemists and environmental chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior research chemist has an average salary of $95,520, which is higher than the $56,956 average annual salary of an environmental chemist.

The top three skills for a senior research chemist include R, chemistry and product development. The most important skills for an environmental chemist are data validation, GC, and ms.

Senior research chemist vs environmental chemist overview

	Senior Research Chemist	Environmental Chemist
Yearly salary	$95,520	$56,956
Hourly rate	$45.92	$27.38
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	55,511	22,234
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	-	-

Senior research chemist vs environmental chemist salary

Senior research chemists and environmental chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Senior Research Chemist	Environmental Chemist
Average salary	$95,520	$56,956
Salary range	Between $69,000 And $130,000	Between $38,000 And $84,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	Olympia, WA
Highest paying state	Washington	Delaware
Best paying company	Crunchbase	Southern California Edison
Best paying industry	Pharmaceutical	Internet

Differences between senior research chemist and environmental chemist education

There are a few differences between a senior research chemist and an environmental chemist in terms of educational background:

	Senior Research Chemist	Environmental Chemist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Most common major	Chemistry	Chemistry
Most common college	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	University of California, Berkeley

Senior research chemist vs environmental chemist demographics

Here are the differences between senior research chemists' and environmental chemists' demographics:

	Senior Research Chemist	Environmental Chemist
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9%	Male, 62.1% Female, 37.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 27.5% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 18.1% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between senior research chemist and environmental chemist duties and responsibilities

Senior research chemist example responsibilities.

Manage an analytical laboratory, which include SEM-EDS, GC-MS, GPC, FT-IR, ICP-MS, TGA and DSC equipment.
Conduct HPLC analysis of two main products to support equivalency programs.
Establish the fast HPLC column screening system and serve as super user.
Calculate amounts of unknown components of a distillation bottoms mixture using NMR.
Train over twenty plant operators and scientists to use the FTIR system.
Act as leading analyst to provide analytical services to several GMP API productions.

Environmental chemist example responsibilities.

Manage storage of hazardous waste for compliance with RCRA regulations.
Manage and operate mobile laboratories analyzing a wide range of samples utilizing USEPA SW846 GC/MS and HPLC methods.
Achieve expertise with hydrogenations and catalysts, low temp reactions, TLC, reactions done with UV and infrare lights.
Achieve expertise with organic techniques like steam distillation, recrystallization, vacuum sublimation/distillation.
Administer various laboratory safety audits with regard to OSHA rules and regulations to maintain adherence and manage necessary corrective actions.
Conduct analysis of heavy metals in environmental soil and water samples using ICP-OES and ICP-MS

Senior research chemist vs environmental chemist skills

Common senior research chemist skills

R, 16%
Chemistry, 14%
Product Development, 8%
Analytical Laboratory, 6%
Organic Synthesis, 4%
Polymer, 4%

Common environmental chemist skills

Data Validation, 8%
GC, 6%
Ms, 6%
Laboratory Equipment, 6%
ICP-MS, 5%
Environmental Samples, 5%

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Senior Research Chemist
Senior Research Chemist vs Environmental Chemist

Updated January 8, 2025

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