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The differences between research analysts and research scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a research analyst, becoming a research scientist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a research scientist has an average salary of $89,998, which is higher than the $70,232 average annual salary of a research analyst.
The top three skills for a research analyst include data analysis, data collection and research projects. The most important skills for a research scientist are python, data analysis, and patients.
| Research Analyst | Research Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $70,232 | $89,998 |
| Hourly rate | $33.77 | $43.27 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 81,374 | 93,013 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 37 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A research analyst is responsible for providing a company with insights and advice concerning finance, investments, and expenditures. Utilizing their analytical skills and extensive expertise in marketing, they analyze the trends and significant factors to conclude which decision should be the best to make. They can also take part in conducting an in-depth analysis of a business and examine which areas require improvement or has potential. Furthermore, they may work with a company or independently as a freelance analyst.
The job of research scientists is to design, undertake, and analyze information from experiments, trials, and laboratory-based investigations. They usually perform experiments in different areas, including medical research, pharmacology, and geoscience. They have varied duties and responsibilities that include planning and carrying out experiments, conducting fieldwork, and overseeing junior staff members like the technicians. They are typically working for a government laboratory, an environmental agency, and other organizations. Many of these scientists also work in teams and support staff.
Research analysts and research scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Analyst | Research Scientist | |
| Average salary | $70,232 | $89,998 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $107,000 | Between $58,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Lyft |
| Best paying industry | Finance | - |
There are a few differences between a research analyst and a research scientist in terms of educational background:
| Research Analyst | Research Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Business | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | Duke University |
Here are the differences between research analysts' and research scientists' demographics:
| Research Analyst | Research Scientist | |
| Average age | 37 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.8% Female, 49.2% | Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 29.6% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 8% |