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The differences between senior scientists and professors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a senior scientist, becoming a professor takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a professor has an average salary of $157,570, which is higher than the $106,672 average annual salary of a senior scientist.
The top three skills for a senior scientist include patients, data analysis and molecular biology. The most important skills for a professor are philosophy, curriculum development, and mathematics.
| Senior Scientist | Professor | |
| Yearly salary | $106,672 | $157,570 |
| Hourly rate | $51.28 | $75.75 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 49,712 | 21,861 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 41 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A senior scientist is usually in charge of overseeing experiments and evaluating junior scientists' performance, especially in laboratory settings. Moreover, it is also their responsibility to assess every progress report to ensure it's accuracy and validity. As a senior scientist in the field, it is essential to lead and encourage fellow scientists in their joint pursuit for scientific innovations, all while adhering to the laboratory's standards and policies.
A professor is a teaching professional who provides instructions to students on various academic and vocational subjects in colleges, universities, and vocational schools. Professors design curriculums for courses and ensure that they meet college and department students. They continuously conduct research and experiments so that advanced knowledge in their field is completed. They share their research and works by publishing them in books and academic journals. They also provide assistance to graduating students.
Senior scientists and professors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Scientist | Professor | |
| Average salary | $106,672 | $157,570 |
| Salary range | Between $74,000 And $153,000 | Between $88,000 And $280,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | Oregon Health & Science University |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Education |
There are a few differences between a senior scientist and a professor in terms of educational background:
| Senior Scientist | Professor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Business |
| Most common college | Duke University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between senior scientists' and professors' demographics:
| Senior Scientist | Professor | |
| Average age | 41 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% | Male, 56.7% Female, 43.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 26.9% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 7.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 12.8% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 16% |