Principle investigator vs co-investigator

The differences between principle investigators and co-investigators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a principle investigator, becoming a co-investigator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a principle investigator has an average salary of $78,325, which is higher than the $60,791 average annual salary of a co-investigator.

The top three skills for a principle investigator include GPS, data collection and PI. The most important skills for a co-investigator are patients, data collection, and IRB.

Principle investigator vs co-investigator overview

	Principle Investigator	Co-Investigator
Yearly salary	$78,325	$60,791
Hourly rate	$37.66	$29.23
Growth rate	17%	3%
Number of jobs	5,554	7,338
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age	41	44
Years of experience	4	2

Principle investigator vs co-investigator salary

Principle investigators and co-investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Principle Investigator	Co-Investigator
Average salary	$78,325	$60,791
Salary range	Between $46,000 And $133,000	Between $43,000 And $84,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between principle investigator and co-investigator education

There are a few differences between a principle investigator and a co-investigator in terms of educational background:

	Principle Investigator	Co-Investigator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	Duke University	-

Principle investigator vs co-investigator demographics

Here are the differences between principle investigators' and co-investigators' demographics:

	Principle Investigator	Co-Investigator
Average age	41	44
Gender ratio	Male, 49.9% Female, 50.1%	Male, 38.2% Female, 61.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 26.5% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%	Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 3.4% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	8%	9%

Differences between principle investigator and co-investigator duties and responsibilities

Principle investigator example responsibilities.

Manage outsource projects, and interact with vendors for API sourcing, and device components base on project needs.
Promote to perform sequence analysis and identify target primer sites for the development of PCR assays for bacterial species.
Synthesize and analyze experimental data using IBM SPSS.
Investigate the toxicology and efficacy of bioresorbable, polymer-base medical devices and extend release drug delivery system.
Supervise activities of analytical cellular and molecular immunology laboratories.
Supervise activities of analytical cellular and molecular immunology laboratories.

Co-investigator example responsibilities.

Accomplish electroencephalogram (EEG), MRI, and behavioral testing on research participants.
Research utilizes nanotechnology in neuroscience aim to better understand and treat pediatric brain tumors and potentially traumatic brain injury.
Perform blood draws, EKG testing, cholesterol testing, A1c/glucose testing, patient interviewing and questionnaires
Build models in python and matlab to investigate the nature of network derive persuasion allocation mechanisms.
Ensure regulatory standards for protocol and HIPPA compliance by staff.
Audit patient notes ensuring compliance with HIPPA and federal regulation code (42 CFR).

Principle investigator vs co-investigator skills

Common principle investigator skills

GPS, 9%
Data Collection, 8%
PI, 8%
Literature Reviews, 8%
Data Analysis, 6%
Research Projects, 5%

Common co-investigator skills

Patients, 20%
Data Collection, 11%
IRB, 7%
Data Analysis, 6%
Research Projects, 5%
Clinical Trials, 5%

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Principle Investigator
Principle Investigator vs Co-Investigator

Updated January 8, 2025

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