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The differences between forensic scientists and research chemists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a research chemist has an average salary of $75,843, which is higher than the $71,351 average annual salary of a forensic scientist.
The top three skills for a forensic scientist include laboratory equipment, physical evidence and analytical procedures. The most important skills for a research chemist are laboratory equipment, method development, and R.
| Forensic Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Yearly Salary | $71,351 | $75,843 |
| Hourly rate | $34.30 | $36.46 |
| Growth Rate | 11% | 6% |
| Number Of Jobs | 43,335 | 53,769 |
| Job Satisfaction | - | - |
| Most Common Degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average Age | 38 | 42 |
| Years Of Experience | 4 | - |
Forensic scientists work as experts in collecting evidence, analyzing evidence collected at crime scenes, and communicating with law enforcement. They can work as a lab manager and detective. They are responsible for ensuring that tests are performed correctly and ethically without any bias. They obtain evidence at the crime scene, making reports of the findings, examining the evidence in the lab if the evidence collected is relevant or not, and testifying in court. They report to superiors the findings of the analysis.
A research chemist specializes in conducting studies and experiments to develop new products. Their duties primarily focus on conducting research and assessments, gathering and analyzing chemical samples, developing ideas, conducting tests to study chemical reactions, maintaining records of all procedures, and utilizing previous studies. Their research findings can be used to create new medicines, enhance existing products, and lead to innovations. When it comes to employment, a research chemist may work for pharmaceutical companies, private laboratories, government agencies, and learning institutions.
Forensic scientists and research chemists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Forensic Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Average Salary | $71,351 | $75,843 |
| Salary Range | Between $45,000 And $112,000 | Between $53,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest Paying City | Lincoln, NE | McLean, VA |
| Highest Paying State | Alaska | Virginia |
| Best Paying Company | Alere | BP America Inc |
| Best Paying Industry | Health Care | Energy |
There are a few differences between a forensic scientist and a research chemist in terms of educational background:
| Forensic Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Most Common Degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most Common Major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most Common College | California State University - Bakersfield | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between forensic scientists' and research chemists' demographics:
| Forensic Scientist | Research Chemist | |
| Average Age | 38 | 42 |
| Gender Ratio | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% | Male, 68.5% Female, 31.5% |
| Race Ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 10.5% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 22.2% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |