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The differences between managers, research projects 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 manager, research projects and a research leader. Additionally, a research leader has an average salary of $107,345, which is higher than the $70,818 average annual salary of a manager, research projects.
The top three skills for a manager, research projects include project management, data collection and patients. The most important skills for a research leader are data collection, data analysis, and market research.
| Manager, Research Projects | Research Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $70,818 | $107,345 |
| Hourly rate | $34.05 | $51.61 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 50,604 | 77,051 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Managers of research projects are in charge of overseeing the daily operations of research projects, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Their responsibilities typically include managing research teams, setting goals and guidelines, handling the budgets and schedules, and monitoring the progress of all efforts, resolving issues should there be any. There are also instances when they must prepare and present reports to the executives. Moreover, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage teams to reach goals while enforcing the company's 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.
Managers, research projects and research leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manager, Research Projects | Research Leader | |
| Average salary | $70,818 | $107,345 |
| Salary range | Between $52,000 And $94,000 | Between $64,000 And $178,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a manager, research projects and a research leader in terms of educational background:
| Manager, Research Projects | Research Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between managers, research projects' and research leaders' demographics:
| Manager, Research Projects | Research Leader | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.7% Female, 54.3% | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 13.9% White, 65.2% 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% |