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The differences between market research consultants and research managers 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 manager. Additionally, a market research consultant has an average salary of $85,073, which is higher than the $82,894 average annual salary of a research manager.
The top three skills for a market research consultant include client facing, risk management and powerpoint. The most important skills for a research manager are market research, analytics, and quantitative research.
| Market Research Consultant | Research Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $85,073 | $82,894 |
| Hourly rate | $40.90 | $39.85 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 76,424 | 48,867 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| 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.
A Research Manager performs research, data collection, and economic, statistical, and demographic analysis. They also determine and implement research and development strategies, policies, and plans.
Market research consultants and research managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Market Research Consultant | Research Manager | |
| Average salary | $85,073 | $82,894 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $132,000 | Between $51,000 And $133,000 |
| Highest paying City | Renton, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Invesco | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a market research consultant and a research manager in terms of educational background:
| Market Research Consultant | Research Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between market research consultants' and research managers' demographics:
| Market Research Consultant | Research Manager | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.1% Female, 46.9% | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% |
| 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 13.1% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |