Research specialist demographics and statistics in the US
Research specialist demographics research summary. Zippia estimates research specialist demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our research specialist estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about research specialists after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 84,983 research specialists currently employed in the United States.
- 62.0% of all research specialists are women, while 38.0% are men.
- The average research specialist age is 36 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of research specialists is White (65.1%), followed by Asian (14.1%), Hispanic or Latino (11.2%) and Unknown (4.9%).
- Research specialists are most in-demand in Philadelphia, PA.
- The technology industry is the highest-paying for research specialists.
- 10% of all research specialists are LGBT.
On this page
Research specialist demographics by:
Research specialist gender statistics
62.0% of research specialists are women and 38.0% of research specialists are men.
- Female, 62.0%
- Male, 38.0%
Research specialist gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 62.0% |
| Male | 38.0% |
Research specialist gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$51,596
Female income
$49,437
Research specialist gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in research specialist positions over time. Currently, 62.0% of research specialists are female.
Research specialist gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 46.20% | 53.80% |
| 2011 | 43.75% | 56.25% |
| 2012 | 43.99% | 56.01% |
| 2013 | 40.58% | 59.42% |
| 2014 | 40.62% | 59.38% |
| 2015 | 42.74% | 57.26% |
| 2016 | 41.99% | 58.01% |
| 2017 | 41.96% | 58.04% |
| 2018 | 41.02% | 58.98% |
| 2019 | 39.70% | 60.30% |
| 2020 | 37.31% | 62.69% |
| 2021 | 38.00% | 62.00% |
Research specialist related jobs gender ratio
We compared research specialists with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, timber buyer and chief estimator have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding Coordinator | 9% | 91% |
| Conference Planning Manager | 9% | 91% |
| Human Resources Administrative Assistant | 9% | 91% |
| Research Specialist | 38% | 62% |
| Electronic Security Specialist | 94% | 6% |
| Chief Estimator | 95% | 5% |
| Timber Buyer | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Research specialist demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among research specialists is White, which makes up 65.1% of all research specialists. Comparatively, 14.1% of research specialists are Asian and 11.2% of research specialists are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 65.1%
- Asian, 14.1%
- Hispanic or Latino, 11.2%
- Unknown, 4.9%
- Black or African American, 4.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.0%
Research specialist race
| Research specialist race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 65.1% |
| Asian | 14.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11.2% |
| Unknown | 4.9% |
| Black or African American | 4.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.0% |
Research specialist race and ethnicity over time
See how research specialist racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Research specialist race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 74.00% | 4.89% | 11.82% | 7.60% |
| 2011 | 72.30% | 4.89% | 12.25% | 8.56% |
| 2012 | 72.36% | 5.09% | 11.54% | 8.79% |
| 2013 | 72.11% | 5.30% | 10.99% | 8.81% |
| 2014 | 72.44% | 4.73% | 12.16% | 8.25% |
| 2015 | 71.40% | 4.31% | 12.46% | 8.96% |
| 2016 | 69.62% | 5.48% | 12.68% | 9.86% |
| 2017 | 69.60% | 5.34% | 12.75% | 9.47% |
| 2018 | 68.90% | 5.00% | 12.76% | 10.06% |
| 2019 | 69.24% | 4.90% | 12.97% | 10.11% |
| 2020 | 67.33% | 4.35% | 13.05% | 10.98% |
| 2021 | 65.06% | 4.70% | 14.07% | 11.16% |
Research specialist wage gap by race
According to our data, asian research specialists have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american research specialists have the lowest average salary at $48,073.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $50,451 |
| White | $52,228 |
| Black or African American | $48,073 |
| Asian | $56,501 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $51,090 |
Average research specialist age
See how the average age of research specialists varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Research specialist age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 34 | 29.5 |
| White | 37 | 34 |
| Black or African American | 33.5 | 31 |
| Asian | 35 | 35 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 31 | 33 |
Research specialist age breakdown
The average age of research specialists is 30-40 years years old, representing 35% of the research specialist population.
Research specialist age breakdown
| Research Specialist Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 35% |
| 30-40 years | 35% |
| 20-30 years | 30% |
Research specialist educational attainment
The most common degree for research specialists is bachelor's degree, with 61% of research specialists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 17% and master's degree degree at 9%.
- Bachelor's, 61%
- Master's, 17%
- Associate, 9%
- Doctorate, 5%
- Other Degrees, 8%
Research specialists by degree level
| Research specialist degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 61% |
| Master's | 17% |
| Associate | 9% |
| Doctorate | 5% |
| Other Degrees | 8% |
Research specialist jobs you might like
Research specialist wage gap by degree level
According to the data, research specialists with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $62,287 annually. With a Master's degree, research specialists earn a median annual income of $61,688 compared to $53,828 for research specialists with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $61,688 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $53,828 |
| Doctorate Degree | $62,287 |
Research specialist employment statistics
Most research specialists work for a private in the education industry.
Company size where research specialists work
Below, you can see the size of companies where research specialists work.
Research specialist jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 3% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 9% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 15% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 7% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 31% |
| > 10,000 employees | 36% |
Research specialist jobs by company type
Employees with the research specialist job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most research specialists prefer to work at private companies over education companies.
Research specialist jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 32% |
| Public | 29% |
| Private | 34% |
| Government | 6% |
Research specialist jobs by industry
The most common industries for research specialists are education, finance and health care.
Research specialist industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 26% |
| Fortune 500 | 14% |
| Finance | 11% |
| Health Care | 10% |
| Professional | 8% |
| Government | 5% |
| Technology | 4% |
| Media | 3% |
| Manufacturing | 3% |
| Insurance | 3% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Retail | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
Research specialist turnover and employment statistics
Research specialist unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for research specialists between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Research specialist unemployment rate by year
| Year | Research specialist unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.74% |
| 2011 | 5.95% |
| 2012 | 6.43% |
| 2013 | 4.82% |
| 2014 | 4.69% |
| 2015 | 3.53% |
| 2016 | 4.06% |
| 2017 | 3.47% |
| 2018 | 3.02% |
| 2019 | 3.21% |
| 2020 | 5.42% |
| 2021 | 5.17% |
Average research specialist tenure
The average research specialist stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 10,022 research specialists resumes in Zippia's database.
Research specialist tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 19% |
| 1-2 years | 37% |
| 3-4 years | 16% |
| 5-7 years | 14% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 8% |
Research specialist LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of research specialists that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Estimator/Project Manager | 4.41% | 58,976 |
| Senior Logistic Specialist | 8.65% | 11,470 |
| Senior Employment Specialist | 8.93% | 5,880 |
| Research Specialist | 10.00% | - |
| Senior Operations Representative | 11.05% | 68,996 |
| Forensic Pathologist | 11.64% | 20,624 |
| Donor Relations Officer | 19.25% | 66,923 |
Similar research specialist jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Estimator/Project Manager | 4.41% | 58,976 |
| Senior Logistic Specialist | 8.65% | 11,470 |
| Senior Employment Specialist | 8.93% | 5,880 |
| Senior Operations Representative | 11.05% | 68,996 |
| Forensic Pathologist | 11.64% | 20,624 |
| Donor Relations Officer | 19.25% | 66,923 |
Foreign languages spoken by research specialists
The most common foreign language among research specialists is Spanish at 44.5%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 11.6% and Chinese is the third-most popular at 7.0%.
- Spanish, 44.5%
- French, 11.6%
- Chinese, 7.0%
- German, 5.6%
- Mandarin, 4.8%
- Other, 26.5%
Research specialist languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 44.5% |
| French | 11.6% |
| Chinese | 7.0% |
| German | 5.6% |
| Mandarin | 4.8% |
| Other | 26.5% |
