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The differences between directors of institutional research and research directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a director of institutional research, becoming a research director takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a research director has an average salary of $108,875, which is higher than the $88,935 average annual salary of a director of institutional research.
The top three skills for a director of institutional research include data collection, data analysis and statistical analysis. The most important skills for a research director are research projects, data collection, and healthcare.
A director of institutional research oversees and leads the research programs of an organization or institution. They primarily take the lead in developing research plans, setting goals and standards, establishing timelines, securing fundings, organizing and managing research teams, recruiting new members of the workforce, and conducting regular assessments to ensure optimal operations. Moreover, a director of institutional research monitors all activities, addressing and solving issues should any arise. It is also their responsibility to empower research teams while implementing the organization's policies and standards.
Research Directors oversee the research initiatives of the company. They are usually deployed in the academe, research facilities, or companies with research and development departments. They set research goals aligned with the company's vision. They also ensure that all research activities are significant and would have an impact. They usually aim to complete research work that would contribute to the advancement of their field. Research Directors provide strategic direction on how to complete their research goals. They guide their team of researchers to work more efficiently and more productively. They also lead the team in networking activities.
Directors of institutional research and research directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Director Of Institutional Research | Research Director | |
| Average salary | $88,935 | $108,875 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $128,000 | Between $68,000 And $171,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Clara, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a director of institutional research and a research director in terms of educational background:
| Director Of Institutional Research | Research Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between directors of institutional research' and research directors' demographics:
| Director Of Institutional Research | Research Director | |
| Average age | 44 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.7% Female, 52.3% | Male, 59.0% Female, 41.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 10.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 5.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 12.5% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 10% |