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What is a director of institutional research and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

The director of institutional research directs and supervises all institutional research and studies for a university. They report to the head of the department and create and oversee research studies to observe the effectiveness of the institution's programs and policies. These research studies serve as a source of information to support strategic planning and policy formulation. The director of institutional research is directly responsible for collecting, analyzing, and distributing university data. Also, they oversee the preparation of research reports.

A master's degree and five years of experience in a related field are all you need to get a job. Besides, you must be able to use databases and computer programs. You must also possess interpersonal, communication, and analytical skills. The average salary for a director of institutional research is $99,630, but it ranges from $80,576 to $121,389, depending on various factors.

ScoreDirector Of Institutional ResearchUS Average
Salary
6.9

Avg. Salary $88,935

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.6

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 10.68%

Black or African American 2.60%

Hispanic or Latino 15.45%

Unknown 7.62%

White 63.14%

Gender

female 52.26%

male 47.74%

Age - 43.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43.5
Stress level
5.6

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.5

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Director of institutional research career paths

Key steps to become a director of institutional research

  1. Explore director of institutional research education requirements

    Most common director of institutional research degrees

    Bachelor's

    59.3 %

    Master's

    26.1 %

    Doctorate

    8.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific director of institutional research skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Data Collection9.01%
    Data Analysis7.21%
    Statistical Analysis7.10%
    SPSS6.90%
    Institutional Effectiveness5.38%
  3. Complete relevant director of institutional research training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New directors of institutional research learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a director of institutional research based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real director of institutional research resumes.
  4. Research director of institutional research duties and responsibilities

    • Lead the overhaul of Amgen's small molecule lead optimization effort.
    • Achieve and maintain the standardization of IRB and research activities and compliance across the CHS.
    • Manage investment reports flow, and maintain financial models of list equities to assist in the investment process.
    • Achieve superior customer results by improving and integrating proprietary chemistry tests.
  5. Get director of institutional research experience

    Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a director of institutional research. The most common roles before becoming a director of institutional research include instructor, research analyst team lead and research assistant.
  6. Prepare your director of institutional research resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your director of institutional research resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a director of institutional research resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable director of institutional research resume templates

    Build a professional director of institutional research resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your director of institutional research resume.
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    Director Of Institutional Research Resume
    Director Of Institutional Research Resume
    Director Of Institutional Research Resume
    Director Of Institutional Research Resume
    Director Of Institutional Research Resume
    Director Of Institutional Research Resume
    Director Of Institutional Research Resume
    Director Of Institutional Research Resume
  7. Apply for director of institutional research jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a director of institutional research job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first director of institutional research job

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Average director of institutional research salary

The average director of institutional research salary in the United States is $88,935 per year or $43 per hour. Director of institutional research salaries range between $61,000 and $128,000 per year.

Average director of institutional research salary
$88,935 Yearly
$42.76 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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