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The differences between market research consultants and research directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a market research consultant and a research director. Additionally, a research director has an average salary of $108,875, which is higher than the $85,073 average annual salary of a market research consultant.
The top three skills for a market research consultant include client facing, risk management and powerpoint. The most important skills for a research director are research projects, data collection, and healthcare.
| Market Research Consultant | Research Director | |
| Yearly salary | $85,073 | $108,875 |
| Hourly rate | $40.90 | $52.34 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 76,424 | 51,298 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A market research consultant specializes in developing and recommending strategies to optimize a company's marketing operations. They perform extensive market research and analysis, gather and analyze client feedback, spearhead surveys and studies to determine how the current marketing projects affect the consumers, and develop social media techniques to raise brand awareness and public interest. Using their research findings, a market research consultant develops conclusions and recommendations that adhere to the company's goals. Moreover, there are instances when a market research consultant participates in planning and creating marketing programs and materials.
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.
Market research consultants and research directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Market Research Consultant | Research Director | |
| Average salary | $85,073 | $108,875 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $132,000 | Between $68,000 And $171,000 |
| Highest paying City | Renton, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Invesco | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a market research consultant and a research director in terms of educational background:
| Market Research Consultant | Research Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between market research consultants' and research directors' demographics:
| Market Research Consultant | Research Director | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.1% Female, 46.9% | Male, 59.0% Female, 41.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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 | 10% | 10% |