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The differences between staff research scientists and laboratory researchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a staff research scientist and a laboratory researcher. Additionally, a staff research scientist has an average salary of $106,793, which is higher than the $27,760 average annual salary of a laboratory researcher.
The top three skills for a staff research scientist include QC, HPLC and product development. The most important skills for a laboratory researcher are lab procedures, cell culture, and molecular biology.
| Staff Research Scientist | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Yearly salary | $106,793 | $27,760 |
| Hourly rate | $51.34 | $13.35 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 154,687 | 57,359 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A staff research scientist is responsible for conducting and evaluating research. They may work in areas such as meteorology, geosciences, medical research, or pharmacology. They develop experiments, conduct them, and analyze data.
Laboratory researchers are professionals who manage a research laboratory while performing cellular and biochemical experiments with the primary researcher. These researchers must work with hazardous chemicals and should show expertise in handling lab equipment such as glassware and field equipment. They are required to assist with research projects and interpret the test data of an experiment. They must manage the order of all lab equipment by filling up the purchase requisition forms. Laboratory researchers are required to work with students in all aspects of laboratory research.
Staff research scientists and laboratory researchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Staff Research Scientist | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Average salary | $106,793 | $27,760 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $159,000 | Between $17,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New Brunswick, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | Maine |
| Best paying company | Upstart Network | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Education |
There are a few differences between a staff research scientist and a laboratory researcher in terms of educational background:
| Staff Research Scientist | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between staff research scientists' and laboratory researchers' demographics:
| Staff Research Scientist | Laboratory Researcher | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.7% Female, 35.3% | Male, 56.7% Female, 43.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 31.6% White, 48.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |