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The differences between senior research investigators 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 research investigator and a research scientist. Additionally, a senior research investigator has an average salary of $90,336, which is higher than the $89,998 average annual salary of a research scientist.
The top three skills for a senior research investigator include data analysis, drug discovery and chemistry. The most important skills for a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Senior Research Investigator | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $90,336 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $43.43 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 62,248 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Senior Research Investigator specializes in conducting extensive research and analysis to develop conclusions and recommendations. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their place or employment industry, it usually includes adhering to guidelines and timelines, narrowing down leads to gather and analyze data, consulting with experts, and maintaining records of all procedures. As a Senior Research Investigator, it is essential to lead and serve as a role model to less experienced investigators in the joint effort to reach project goals, all while implementing the facility's standards and regulations.
The job of research scientists is to design, undertake, and analyze information from experiments, trials, and laboratory-based investigations. They usually perform experiments in different areas, including medical research, pharmacology, and geoscience. They have varied duties and responsibilities that include planning and carrying out experiments, conducting fieldwork, and overseeing junior staff members like the technicians. They are typically working for a government laboratory, an environmental agency, and other organizations. Many of these scientists also work in teams and support staff.
Senior research investigators and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Research Investigator | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $90,336 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $139,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Crunchbase | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | - |
There are a few differences between a senior research investigator and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Senior Research Investigator | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between senior research investigators' and research scientists' demographics:
| Senior Research Investigator | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.8% Female, 42.2% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 24.9% White, 55.2% 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 Percentage | 8% | 8% |