Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between research consultants and consultants 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 consultant, becoming a consultant takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a research consultant has an average salary of $83,492, which is higher than the $78,912 average annual salary of a consultant.
The top three skills for a research consultant include data collection, medicaid and business development. The most important skills for a consultant are customer service, strong analytical, and project management.
| Research Consultant | Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $83,492 | $78,912 |
| Hourly rate | $40.14 | $37.94 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 61,865 | 171,733 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 37 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A research consultant is an individual who is responsible for collecting and analyzing multiple types of data across a variety of formats and present research reports for research and analytics companies, public institutions, and private businesses. Research consultants are required to design research strategies to complete the needs of research projects as well as create a basic plan of action for finding data. They may use online resources, phone surveys, and other data-collection methods to find and collect data. Research consultants must also assign investigative teams to verify and double-check the collected data.
Consultants are individuals who were tapped by a company or an organization to work on a specific activity, depending on their field of expertise. They act as guides for the organization in undertaking projects that are related to their field. Consultants would usually assist organizations in planning, often giving advice when the need arises. They would, at times, take the lead in activities that involve data gathering and interpretation of data gathering results so that they can provide solid recommendations on actions that the organization may undertake. They may also guide the organization in implementing any changes brought about by their consultancy and in evaluating the effectiveness of the changes.
Research consultants and consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Consultant | Consultant | |
| Average salary | $83,492 | $78,912 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $115,000 | Between $58,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | L.E.K. Consulting |
| Best paying industry | Education | Technology |
There are a few differences between a research consultant and a consultant in terms of educational background:
| Research Consultant | Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between research consultants' and consultants' demographics:
| Research Consultant | Consultant | |
| Average age | 37 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.2% Female, 51.8% | Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 14.0% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 13.8% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 12% |