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The differences between directors, market research and research leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a director, market research and a research leader. Additionally, a director, market research has an average salary of $112,955, which is higher than the $107,345 average annual salary of a research leader.
The top three skills for a director, market research include market research, data analysis and competitive intelligence. The most important skills for a research leader are data collection, data analysis, and market research.
| Director, Market Research | Research Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $112,955 | $107,345 |
| Hourly rate | $54.31 | $51.61 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 59,598 | 77,051 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A director of market research oversees and directs the market research programs of a company. They must set goals and timelines, establish budgets and strategies, liaise with internal and external parties, and develop market research plans according to company objectives and standards. They may also participate in recruiting researchers and other experts, conducting market research and interviews, identifying key participants, and reviewing findings. Moreover, they lead staff in the joint effort to reach program goals, all while implementing company policies and regulations.
Research Leaders are academicians who oversee a group of researchers conducting a study. They are usually well-known researchers in their field of study or area of interest. They manage the group throughout the whole research process. They may orient them at the start of the engagement to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Research Leaders direct the group in identifying the resources needed, finding these resources, and eventually managing them. They also guide the team in conducting the research properly by providing strategic direction, sharing techniques, and helping them analyze the gathered data. With their experience in the field, Research Leaders usually provide frameworks that the team may work within.
Directors, market research and research leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Director, Market Research | Research Leader | |
| Average salary | $112,955 | $107,345 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $185,000 | Between $64,000 And $178,000 |
| Highest paying City | Dover, DE | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Barclays | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a director, market research and a research leader in terms of educational background:
| Director, Market Research | Research Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between directors, market research' and research leaders' demographics:
| Director, Market Research | Research Leader | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.6% Female, 42.4% | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 11.7% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |