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The differences between staff research scientists and postdoctoral associates 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 postdoctoral associate. Additionally, a staff research scientist has an average salary of $106,793, which is higher than the $54,350 average annual salary of a postdoctoral associate.
The top three skills for a staff research scientist include QC, HPLC and product development. The most important skills for a postdoctoral associate are patients, TIP, and data analysis.
| Staff Research Scientist | Postdoctoral Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $106,793 | $54,350 |
| Hourly rate | $51.34 | $26.13 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 154,687 | 18,093 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| 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.
A postdoctoral associate is responsible for researching to support scientific claims and theories by collecting evidence and information to answer scientific questions. Postdoctoral associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, to interact with people and document investigation findings. They also utilize laboratory tools and equipment for scientific researches, conduct field investigations, and interview participants. A postdoctoral associate designs comprehensive research models to discuss results with the panel and the team efficiently and accurately.
Staff research scientists and postdoctoral associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Staff Research Scientist | Postdoctoral Associate | |
| Average salary | $106,793 | $54,350 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $159,000 | Between $39,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Berkeley, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Maine |
| Best paying company | Upstart Network | Argonne National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Education |
There are a few differences between a staff research scientist and a postdoctoral associate in terms of educational background:
| Staff Research Scientist | Postdoctoral Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between staff research scientists' and postdoctoral associates' demographics:
| Staff Research Scientist | Postdoctoral Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.7% Female, 35.3% | Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8% |
| 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, 5.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 39.4% White, 42.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |