Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between market researchers 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 researcher and a research director. Additionally, a research director has an average salary of $108,875, which is higher than the $52,309 average annual salary of a market researcher.
The top three skills for a market researcher include data analysis, primary research and data collection. The most important skills for a research director are research projects, data collection, and healthcare.
| Market Researcher | Research Director | |
| Yearly salary | $52,309 | $108,875 |
| Hourly rate | $25.15 | $52.34 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 23,734 | 51,298 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
In businesses, a market researcher is primarily responsible for performing market research and analysis. Although the extent of their duties usually depends on their place of employment, it typically includes coordinating with other experts, gathering and analyzing data, identifying new business opportunities, studying market activities, creating questionnaires, and developing test structures. Through their research findings, they must produce detailed reports and presentations for managers and even executives. Furthermore, as a market researcher, it is essential to understand the company's needs, including its vision and mission.
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 researchers and research directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Market Researcher | Research Director | |
| Average salary | $52,309 | $108,875 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $84,000 | Between $68,000 And $171,000 |
| Highest paying City | Linden, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a market researcher and a research director in terms of educational background:
| Market Researcher | Research Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between market researchers' and research directors' demographics:
| Market Researcher | Research Director | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.4% Female, 51.6% | Male, 59.0% Female, 41.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 14.0% White, 64.3% 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% |