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Research group director vs research manager

The differences between research group directors and research managers 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 group director, becoming a research manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a research group director has an average salary of $97,758, which is higher than the $82,894 average annual salary of a research manager.

The top three skills for a research group director include research projects, R and market research. The most important skills for a research manager are market research, analytics, and quantitative research.

Research group director vs research manager overview

Research Group DirectorResearch Manager
Yearly salary$97,758$82,894
Hourly rate$47.00$39.85
Growth rate17%19%
Number of jobs60,13048,867
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age4137
Years of experience46

Research group director vs research manager salary

Research group directors and research managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Research Group DirectorResearch Manager
Average salary$97,758$82,894
Salary rangeBetween $59,000 And $160,000Between $51,000 And $133,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-Meta
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between research group director and research manager education

There are a few differences between a research group director and a research manager in terms of educational background:

Research Group DirectorResearch Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorChemistryBusiness
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of Georgia

Research group director vs research manager demographics

Here are the differences between research group directors' and research managers' demographics:

Research Group DirectorResearch Manager
Average age4137
Gender ratioMale, 56.5% Female, 43.5%Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 13.1% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage8%10%

Differences between research group director and research manager duties and responsibilities

Research group director example responsibilities.

  • Lead social path-to-purchase study, incorporating social media analytics into insight community to identify spectrum of social engagement among customers.
  • Develop a license plate recognition and tracking algorithm using MATLAB.
  • Design a moving JPEG hardware accelerator using MATLAB and Simulink.
  • Develop and modify Linux device drivers for use on main controller platform.
  • Present results, observations and future plans via PowerPoint to the research class
  • Research into novel method for production of gold nanoparticles with tailorable size and shape.
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Research manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage IRB submissions and complete all IRB requirements in conjunction with the HICCC s regulatory department.
  • Lead social path-to-purchase study, incorporating social media analytics into insight community to identify spectrum of social engagement among customers.
  • Conduct QA for time and testing of products.
  • Implement document data extraction through online web-base research and sources.
  • Direct analytical and logistician research teams to produce in-depth studies and analyses on logistics, maintenance and transportation issues.
  • Coordinate communications with the IRB, NIH and other institutional entities that fund, support, collaborate and regulate research.
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Research group director vs research manager skills

Common research group director skills
  • Research Projects, 48%
  • R, 18%
  • Market Research, 6%
  • Laboratory Procedures, 6%
  • Clinical Trials, 5%
  • MATLAB, 5%
Common research manager skills
  • Market Research, 8%
  • Analytics, 6%
  • Quantitative Research, 6%
  • Data Analysis, 5%
  • Patients, 5%
  • Data Collection, 4%

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