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The differences between design managers and research managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a design manager, becoming a research manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a design manager has an average salary of $102,637, which is higher than the $82,894 average annual salary of a research manager.
The top three skills for a design manager include sketch, project management and visualization. The most important skills for a research manager are market research, analytics, and quantitative research.
| Design Manager | Research Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $102,637 | $82,894 |
| Hourly rate | $49.34 | $39.85 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 61,273 | 48,867 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 48 | 37 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
A design manager is responsible for creating graphic and digital designs, following clients' specifications, and managing project deliverables efficiently. Design managers work closely with the marketing and public relations department, developing strategies to promote the brand to the target audience. They coordinate with the creative team and present the design ideas to the management, ask for final approval, perform revisions as needed, and follow the budget goals. A design manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle the design team's concerns and needs.
A Research Manager performs research, data collection, and economic, statistical, and demographic analysis. They also determine and implement research and development strategies, policies, and plans.
Design managers and research managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Manager | Research Manager | |
| Average salary | $102,637 | $82,894 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $150,000 | Between $51,000 And $133,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a design manager and a research manager in terms of educational background:
| Design Manager | Research Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Business |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between design managers' and research managers' demographics:
| Design Manager | Research Manager | |
| Average age | 48 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.8% Female, 36.2% | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 11.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 13.1% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 10% |