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The differences between research fellows and professors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a research fellow, becoming a professor takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a professor has an average salary of $157,570, which is higher than the $53,823 average annual salary of a research fellow.
The top three skills for a research fellow include patients, research projects and data analysis. The most important skills for a professor are philosophy, curriculum development, and mathematics.
| Research Fellow | Professor | |
| Yearly salary | $53,823 | $157,570 |
| Hourly rate | $25.88 | $75.75 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 59,746 | 21,861 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 41 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A research fellow is an academic researcher who conducts research and analysis of comprehensive literature, data, and results and provides literature reviews. He/She supervises research assistants and recruits study participants to interview them for a particular study. To become a research fellow, a candidate should have a doctorate in a relevant discipline and publish peer-reviewed papers. Also, a research fellow can be an independent investigator or be supervised by a principal investigator.
A professor is a teaching professional who provides instructions to students on various academic and vocational subjects in colleges, universities, and vocational schools. Professors design curriculums for courses and ensure that they meet college and department students. They continuously conduct research and experiments so that advanced knowledge in their field is completed. They share their research and works by publishing them in books and academic journals. They also provide assistance to graduating students.
Research fellows and professors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Fellow | Professor | |
| Average salary | $53,823 | $157,570 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $72,000 | Between $88,000 And $280,000 |
| Highest paying City | South San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Oregon Health & Science University |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Education |
There are a few differences between a research fellow and a professor in terms of educational background:
| Research Fellow | Professor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Business |
| Most common college | Duke University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between research fellows' and professors' demographics:
| Research Fellow | Professor | |
| Average age | 41 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.3% Female, 44.7% | Male, 56.7% Female, 43.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 27.1% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 7.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 12.8% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 16% |