Senior research technologists assist scientists in the completion of research projects.
Senior research technologists can be instrumental in the completion of research projects by scientists. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies senior research technologists as science technicians. The bureau also notes there are eight different types of science technicians who specialize in various fields of scientific research. The salaries for senior research technologists in each of these fields tends to be toward the top of the pay scale.
Salary Range
The salaries of senior research technologists differ according to the field of science in which they work. For instance, the highest paid technologists in the agriculture and food science field made more than $52,600 per year in 2010, according to the BLS. Those in biological science made salaries of $62,890 or higher. Those in the chemistry field made even more at $66,710 per year, while those in environmental science made about the same at $67,630. Forest and conservation technologists made significantly less, on the other hand, bringing in $53,780 or more per year. Geological, nuclear and forensic technologists made the highest salaries at the top of the pay scale. Geological technicians made salaries of $99,860 or higher, while those in nuclear and forensic science made $93,890 and $82,990, respectively.
Industries
The industry in which the senior research technologist works also plays a role in how much he can expect to make. For instance, those chemical technologists made the highest average salary when working for the federal government at an average of $60,990 per year in 2010, while those in architectural, engineering and related services made significantly less at $36,340 per year. The same is true for other fields such as biology where those working in physicians' offices made the highest salaries at $59,080 per year, while those in college and university settings made $41,450.
Location
Location often provides an indication of the expected salary for senior research technologists and other science technicians. In many cases, California was the state with the highest level of employment for many science technicians, but was not always the highest paying state. According to the BLS, New Jersey was the top paying state of agricultural and food technicians at an average salary of $47,170 per year. Biological technicians in Connecticut earned the highest salaries at $50,550 per year. Chemistry technicians in New Mexico made the most money at an average of $59,650 per year. California topped the list for geological and petroleum science technologist with an average annual salary of $93,280 per year.
Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs for science technicians should grow by about 12 percent through 2018. However, the number of jobs in each field is expected to grow at different rates. Each field differs and tends to correspond closely with the expected rate of growth in the field of science in which the technologist works. For instance, biological science technicians can expect above average job growth at a rate of about 18 percent. The same is expected to be true for biological scientists who will experience job growth exceeding 20 percent.
Tags: research technologists, science technicians, while those, highest salaries, made highest, science made, senior research
