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The differences between equity research analysts and associate analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an equity research analyst and an associate analyst. Additionally, an equity research analyst has an average salary of $119,540, which is higher than the $68,161 average annual salary of an associate analyst.
The top three skills for an equity research analyst include financial models, macro and securities. The most important skills for an associate analyst are customer service, powerpoint, and data analysis.
| Equity Research Analyst | Associate Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $119,540 | $68,161 |
| Hourly rate | $57.47 | $32.77 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 85,974 | 97,311 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An equity research analyst is responsible for analyzing stock and securities markets, generating reports and performance projections, and advising clients on the best options for clients' financial portfolios. Equity research analysts should have excellent knowledge of the current stock market trends, especially the availability of the securities to identify investments that would sell in public. They evaluate the clients' needs out of their investment interests and risk appetite. An equity research analyst must be highly-communicative and analytical, especially on responding to clients' inquiries and concerns and informing investment managers on the stock and securities available.
An associate analyst is an individual who is responsible for the research and investigation for a specific business process and department to help the senior staff make further decisions. Associate analysts must use their analytical skills to understand how the collected data can affect business decisions, then prepare reports that detail findings and recommend solutions. They must assist in developing new business models that can generate profits while reducing costs. Associate analysts can work in various industries ranging from finance and operations to information technology (IT) and marketing.
Equity research analysts and associate analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Equity Research Analyst | Associate Analyst | |
| Average salary | $119,540 | $68,161 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $182,000 | Between $47,000 And $98,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New York |
| Best paying company | Simmons Energy | Apollo Global Management |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Finance |
There are a few differences between an equity research analyst and an associate analyst in terms of educational background:
| Equity Research Analyst | Associate Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Finance | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between equity research analysts' and associate analysts' demographics:
| Equity Research Analyst | Associate Analyst | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2% | Male, 52.3% Female, 47.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 14.1% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 14.1% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |