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The differences between postdoctoral scholars and senior research fellows can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a postdoctoral scholar and a senior research fellow. Additionally, a senior research fellow has an average salary of $62,129, which is higher than the $57,587 average annual salary of a postdoctoral scholar.
The top three skills for a postdoctoral scholar include chemistry, python and patients. The most important skills for a senior research fellow are python, research projects, and data analysis.
| Postdoctoral Scholar | Senior Research Fellow | |
| Yearly salary | $57,587 | $62,129 |
| Hourly rate | $27.69 | $29.87 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 18,983 | 53,535 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Postdoctoral Scholar is responsible for supporting an educational research group to conduct studies and gather relevant data to support study claims and scientific evidence. They review initial findings, perform field investigations, and interview the target respondents for data and statistical analysis. They also coordinate with the whole team for efficient research methods, ensuring adherence to budget limitations and required timetables. A Postdoctoral Scholar must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, to document reports and discuss results with the research team.
Senior Research Fellows are reputable researchers employed in an academic institution or a research facility. The nature of their employment in the institution is related to their research work or field of interest. Senior Research Fellows lead a team of researchers on big projects that require more team members. They manage the team's budget, set timelines, and guide the researchers. They spearhead the analysis of the data gathered. They also set the tone for the presentation materials. Senior Research Fellows should be passionate about their field, should have a thirst for knowledge, and should be able to lead teams.
Postdoctoral scholars and senior research fellows have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Postdoctoral Scholar | Senior Research Fellow | |
| Average salary | $57,587 | $62,129 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $79,000 | Between $40,000 And $95,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a postdoctoral scholar and a senior research fellow in terms of educational background:
| Postdoctoral Scholar | Senior Research Fellow | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between postdoctoral scholars' and senior research fellows' demographics:
| Postdoctoral Scholar | Senior Research Fellow | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.0% Female, 47.0% | Male, 56.1% Female, 43.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 26.5% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |