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The differences between research associates, policy and research leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a research associate, policy and a research leader. Additionally, a research leader has an average salary of $107,345, which is higher than the $69,079 average annual salary of a research associate, policy.
The top three skills for a research associate, policy include public policy, policy research and research projects. The most important skills for a research leader are data collection, data analysis, and market research.
| Research Associate, Policy | Research Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $69,079 | $107,345 |
| Hourly rate | $33.21 | $51.61 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 49,112 | 77,051 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A research associate monitors the progress of research projects and coordinates information between departmental sections. They perform a wide and complex variety of assays, tests, and studies, as well as performing highly specialized and advanced experiments. Their duties and responsibilities also include preparing material for submission to departments or organizations, replying to research emails, and requesting necessary equipment.
Research Leaders are academicians who oversee a group of researchers conducting a study. They are usually well-known researchers in their field of study or area of interest. They manage the group throughout the whole research process. They may orient them at the start of the engagement to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Research Leaders direct the group in identifying the resources needed, finding these resources, and eventually managing them. They also guide the team in conducting the research properly by providing strategic direction, sharing techniques, and helping them analyze the gathered data. With their experience in the field, Research Leaders usually provide frameworks that the team may work within.
Research associates, policy and research leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Associate, Policy | Research Leader | |
| Average salary | $69,079 | $107,345 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $102,000 | Between $64,000 And $178,000 |
| Highest paying City | Olympia, WA | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | RAND | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a research associate, policy and a research leader in terms of educational background:
| Research Associate, Policy | Research Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Political Science | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between research associates, policy' and research leaders' demographics:
| Research Associate, Policy | Research Leader | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.3% Female, 50.7% | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |