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The differences between research administrators and senior program coordinators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a research administrator, becoming a senior program coordinator takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior program coordinator has an average salary of $74,468, which is higher than the $52,667 average annual salary of a research administrator.
The top three skills for a research administrator include research administration, customer service and principal investigators. The most important skills for a senior program coordinator are alumni, excellent organizational, and powerpoint.
| Research Administrator | Senior Program Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $52,667 | $74,468 |
| Hourly rate | $25.32 | $35.80 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 99,798 | 80,629 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A research administrator oversees the progress of research programs, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities mostly revolve around devising strategies to optimize processes, coordinating different departments, setting goals and objectives, managing the schedule and budgets, and maintaining records of all transactions. There are also instances when a research administrator must produce progress reports, participate in gathering surveys and feedbacks, and resolve issues promptly and professionally. Furthermore, as a research administrator, it is essential to lead and encourage team members to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
A senior program coordinator is primarily in charge of spearheading and managing programs, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Their responsibilities revolve around participating in setting goals and objectives, securing funding and sponsors, overseeing the workforce, and even establishing guidelines. They may also facilitate communication within the company and liaise with external parties. Furthermore, as a senior program coordinator, it is essential to lead and encourage the teams to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
Research administrators and senior program coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Administrator | Senior Program Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $52,667 | $74,468 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $67,000 | Between $46,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Kronos Incorporated | Mayo Clinic |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a research administrator and a senior program coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Research Administrator | Senior Program Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between research administrators' and senior program coordinators' demographics:
| Research Administrator | Senior Program Coordinator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4% | Male, 29.5% Female, 70.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 5.4% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 16% |