Toxicologist vs senior scientist

The differences between toxicologists and senior 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 senior scientist. Additionally, a senior scientist has an average salary of $106,672, 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 senior scientist are patients, data analysis, and molecular biology.

Toxicologist vs senior scientist overview

	Toxicologist	Senior Scientist
Yearly salary	$75,601	$106,672
Hourly rate	$36.35	$51.28
Growth rate	17%	17%
Number of jobs	21,835	49,712
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 51%
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 senior scientist do?

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.

Toxicologist vs senior scientist salary

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

	Toxicologist	Senior Scientist
Average salary	$75,601	$106,672
Salary range	Between $46,000 And $124,000	Between $74,000 And $153,000
Highest paying City	Paramus, NJ	Redwood City, CA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	California
Best paying company	Exxon Mobil	Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Telecommunication

Differences between toxicologist and senior scientist education

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

	Toxicologist	Senior Scientist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common major	Biology	Chemistry
Most common college	University of Southern California	Duke University

Toxicologist vs senior scientist demographics

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

	Toxicologist	Senior Scientist
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 51.5% Female, 48.5%	Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9%
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, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 26.9% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between toxicologist and senior 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.

Senior scientist example responsibilities.

Lead the development and implementation of new technology for use in NMR applications.
Strategize and manage the PK/PD program with internal collaborations including chemistry, DMPK, formulation and toxicology.
Lead a team and develop a 24-channel GC parallel separation system for high throughput screening of catalysts.
Lead a team of 11 direct reports and 35 indirect reports to solve development problems for multicapillary electrophoresis instruments.
Influence and impact others through building and maintaining strong networks that are leverage to obtain critical information and accomplish objectives.
Manage collaborations with external CROs.

Toxicologist vs senior scientist skills

Common toxicologist skills

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

Common senior scientist skills

Patients, 11%
Data Analysis, 6%
Molecular Biology, 3%
Research Projects, 3%
C++, 3%
Java, 3%

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Toxicologist vs Senior Scientist

Updated January 8, 2025

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