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The differences between research fellows and research specialists 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 research specialist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a research fellow has an average salary of $53,823, which is higher than the $52,662 average annual salary of a research specialist.
The top three skills for a research fellow include patients, research projects and data analysis. The most important skills for a research specialist are data collection, patients, and research projects.
| Research Fellow | Research Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $53,823 | $52,662 |
| Hourly rate | $25.88 | $25.32 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 59,746 | 79,341 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 41 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
In a laboratory setting, a research specialist's responsibilities primarily revolve around conducting thorough research and analysis, producing extensive detailed reports, reviewing results, and coordinating with senior researchers and other laboratory personnel to ensure the accuracy of results. Furthermore, a research specialist may contribute their expertise to other publications and articles, train or supervise new researchers, and implement all laboratory guidelines and safety regulations at all times.
Research fellows and research specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Fellow | Research Specialist | |
| Average salary | $53,823 | $52,662 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $72,000 | Between $35,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | South San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Washington |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Novartis |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Technology |
There are a few differences between a research fellow and a research specialist in terms of educational background:
| Research Fellow | Research Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Biology |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between research fellows' and research specialists' demographics:
| Research Fellow | Research Specialist | |
| Average age | 41 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.3% Female, 44.7% | Male, 38.0% Female, 62.0% |
| 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, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.1% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |