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Director, market research vs research manager

The differences between directors, market research and research managers 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 manager. Additionally, a director, market research has an average salary of $112,955, which is higher than the $82,894 average annual salary of a research manager.

The top three skills for a director, market research include market research, data analysis and competitive intelligence. The most important skills for a research manager are market research, analytics, and quantitative research.

Director, market research vs research manager overview

Director, Market ResearchResearch Manager
Yearly salary$112,955$82,894
Hourly rate$54.31$39.85
Growth rate19%19%
Number of jobs59,59848,867
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age3737
Years of experience66

What does a director, market research do?

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.

What does a research manager do?

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.

Director, market research vs research manager salary

Directors, market research and research managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Director, Market ResearchResearch Manager
Average salary$112,955$82,894
Salary rangeBetween $68,000 And $185,000Between $51,000 And $133,000
Highest paying CityDover, DESan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateDelawareWashington
Best paying companyBarclaysMeta
Best paying industryHospitalityFinance

Differences between director, market research and research manager education

There are a few differences between a director, market research and a research manager in terms of educational background:

Director, Market ResearchResearch Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia

Director, market research vs research manager demographics

Here are the differences between directors, market research' and research managers' demographics:

Director, Market ResearchResearch Manager
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 57.6% Female, 42.4%Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1%
Race ratioBlack 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 13.1% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between director, market research and research manager duties and responsibilities

Director, market research example responsibilities.

  • Manage and balance annual syndicate research budget, including MRI, Nielsen, SRDS vendors.
  • Lead social path-to-purchase study, incorporating social media analytics into insight community to identify spectrum of social engagement among customers.
  • Network with fellow students and discuss events in the macro and micro environment.
  • Research property utilizing GIS and local government offices to locate ownership, property records, and tax information.
  • Conduct interviews with technology leaders, financial heads and other managers of major healthcare organizations regarding administrative and information technology issues.
  • Create budgetary protocol and project proposals that are successfully implement by Bloomberg.

Research manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage IRB submissions and complete all IRB requirements in conjunction with the HICCC s regulatory department.
  • Lead social path-to-purchase study, incorporating social media analytics into insight community to identify spectrum of social engagement among customers.
  • Conduct QA for time and testing of products.
  • Implement document data extraction through online web-base research and sources.
  • Direct analytical and logistician research teams to produce in-depth studies and analyses on logistics, maintenance and transportation issues.
  • Coordinate communications with the IRB, NIH and other institutional entities that fund, support, collaborate and regulate research.
  • Show more

Director, market research vs research manager skills

Common director, market research skills
  • Market Research, 12%
  • Data Analysis, 8%
  • Competitive Intelligence, 7%
  • Project Management, 7%
  • Primary Research, 7%
  • Market Research Studies, 4%
Common research manager skills
  • Market Research, 8%
  • Analytics, 6%
  • Quantitative Research, 6%
  • Data Analysis, 5%
  • Patients, 5%
  • Data Collection, 4%

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