Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between postdoctoral research associates and senior research associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a postdoctoral research associate, becoming a senior research associate takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior research associate has an average salary of $72,618, which is higher than the $52,785 average annual salary of a postdoctoral research associate.
The top three skills for a postdoctoral research associate include python, research projects and chemistry. The most important skills for a senior research associate are patients, data analysis, and CRISPR.
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Senior Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $52,785 | $72,618 |
| Hourly rate | $25.38 | $34.91 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 59,377 | 58,903 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A postdoctoral research associate is responsible for assisting the educational institution's research department, writing research reports, analyzing research methods, and collecting information and related studies to support the research claims. Postdoctoral research associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, reporting research updates to the research head, performing adjustments as needed, and gaining more expertise on the subject by brainstorming and discussing strategic procedures for the study. They may also conduct field investigation or coordinate with other institutions for additional reference, depending on the research's scope and limitation.
A Senior Research Associate works closely with research team members to implement research ideas. They diagnose, solve system/software problems, and install application software according to research needs.
Postdoctoral research associates and senior research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Senior Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $52,785 | $72,618 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $72,000 | Between $51,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Memphis, TN | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Washington |
| Best paying company | Argonne National Laboratory | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between a postdoctoral research associate and a senior research associate in terms of educational background:
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Senior Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between postdoctoral research associates' and senior research associates' demographics:
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Senior Research Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.7% Female, 34.3% | Male, 53.6% Female, 46.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 38.1% White, 43.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 13.4% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |