Toxicologist vs scientist

The differences between toxicologists and 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 toxicologist and a scientist. Additionally, a scientist has an average salary of $97,344, which is higher than the $75,601 average annual salary of a toxicologist.

The top three skills for a toxicologist include risk assessments, chemistry and product safety. The most important skills for a scientist are chemistry, data analysis, and patients.

Toxicologist vs scientist overview

	Toxicologist	Scientist
Yearly salary	$75,601	$97,344
Hourly rate	$36.35	$46.80
Growth rate	17%	17%
Number of jobs	21,835	62,467
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age	41	41
Years of experience	4	4

What does a toxicologist do?

A toxicologist specializes in studying toxic substances and how it affects living organisms such as humans and animals. They may work at learning institutions, private laboratories or businesses, medical facilities, and even government agencies. Although the extent of their duties varies on their place of employment, it typically includes conducting studies and scientific research, coordinating with fellow experts, gathering and processing samples through various laboratory procedures, maintaining records, and drawing conclusions based on the research findings.

What does a scientist do?

A scientist is responsible for researching and analyzing the nature and complexities of the physical world to identify discoveries that would improve people's lives and ignite scientific knowledge for society. Scientists' duties differ in their different areas of expertise, but all of them must have a broad comprehension of scientific disciplines and methods to support their experiments and investigations. They collect the sample for their research, record findings, create research proposals, and release publications. A scientist must know how to utilize laboratory equipment to support the study and drive results efficiently and accurately.

Toxicologist vs scientist salary

Toxicologists and scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Toxicologist	Scientist
Average salary	$75,601	$97,344
Salary range	Between $46,000 And $124,000	Between $67,000 And $140,000
Highest paying City	Paramus, NJ	Redwood City, CA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	California
Best paying company	Exxon Mobil	Airbnb
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Technology

Differences between toxicologist and scientist education

There are a few differences between a toxicologist and a scientist in terms of educational background:

	Toxicologist	Scientist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common major	Biology	Chemistry
Most common college	University of Southern California	University of Southern California

Toxicologist vs scientist demographics

Here are the differences between toxicologists' and scientists' demographics:

	Toxicologist	Scientist
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 51.5% Female, 48.5%	Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 23.3% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%	Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between toxicologist and scientist duties and responsibilities

Toxicologist example responsibilities.

Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
Review in-house and contract toxicology studies on Monsanto products to ensure compliance with FDA and EPA regulations.
Evaluate, verify and certify patient results from multiple levels of testing; ELISA, LCMS, MSMS
Review and report both positive and negative initial drug screening data from the laboratory, and release results into the LIS.
Compile computer database of FDA regulatory compliance data.
Lead selection of CROs and qualification activities.

Scientist example responsibilities.

Lead a cross-functional team to return an HIV combination product to market on random-access instrument.
Design the VERIS HIV-1 quantitative PCR assay which achieve Conformit Europ enne (CE) marking.
Manage an elemental analytical laboratory that include operating, maintaining and troubleshooting an ICP-OES, ICPMS, MXRF, and IC.
Develop and manage third party claim investigations and contractor remedial oversight for various insurance companies.
Manage study protocols and study conduct, intimately involve in the toxicology and pharmacokinetic study protocol development process.
Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.

Toxicologist vs scientist skills

Common toxicologist skills

Risk Assessments, 13%
Chemistry, 10%
Product Safety, 6%
FDA, 6%
Toxicology Studies, 5%
Safety Assessments, 4%

Common scientist skills

Chemistry, 9%
Data Analysis, 7%
Patients, 7%
Molecular Biology, 4%
Cell Culture, 4%
Java, 3%

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Toxicologist
Toxicologist vs Scientist

Updated January 8, 2025

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