Senior research chemist vs research chemist

The differences between senior research chemists and research 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 $75,843 average annual salary of a research chemist.

The top three skills for a senior research chemist include R, chemistry and product development. The most important skills for a research chemist are laboratory equipment, method development, and R.

Senior research chemist vs research chemist overview

	Senior Research Chemist	Research Chemist
Yearly salary	$95,520	$75,843
Hourly rate	$45.92	$36.46
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	55,511	53,769
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	-	-

Senior research chemist vs research chemist salary

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

	Senior Research Chemist	Research Chemist
Average salary	$95,520	$75,843
Salary range	Between $69,000 And $130,000	Between $53,000 And $108,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	McLean, VA
Highest paying state	Washington	Virginia
Best paying company	Crunchbase	BP America Inc
Best paying industry	Pharmaceutical	Energy

Differences between senior research chemist and research chemist education

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

	Senior Research Chemist	Research Chemist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common major	Chemistry	Chemistry
Most common college	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Senior research chemist vs research chemist demographics

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

	Senior Research Chemist	Research Chemist
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9%	Male, 68.5% Female, 31.5%
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, 7.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 22.2% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between senior research chemist and research 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.

Research chemist example responsibilities.

Manage the CDS and LIMS systems for the institute.
Manage and record experimental data with lab management software (LIMS).
Manage projects involving the development of GC/MS methods, particle collection systems, and Raman spectral database creation.
Characterize the particles using SEM, DSC, IR, and UV-Vis.
Identify sample structure using microscopy, crystallography, NMR, UV/VIS, GC and AAS.
Develop GC & FTIR instrumental methods of analysis to support quality of incoming raw materials to ensure quality of finish products.

Senior research chemist vs research chemist skills

Common senior research chemist skills

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

Common research chemist skills

Laboratory Equipment, 10%
Method Development, 10%
R, 9%
HPLC, 5%
Analytical Chemistry, 5%
Polymer, 5%

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Senior Research Chemist
Senior Research Chemist vs Research Chemist

Updated January 8, 2025

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