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The differences between research specialists and research leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a research specialist and a research leader. Additionally, a research leader has an average salary of $107,345, which is higher than the $52,662 average annual salary of a research specialist.
The top three skills for a research specialist include data collection, patients and research projects. The most important skills for a research leader are data collection, data analysis, and market research.
| Research Specialist | Research Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $52,662 | $107,345 |
| Hourly rate | $25.32 | $51.61 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 79,341 | 77,051 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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 Leaders are academicians who oversee a group of researchers conducting a study. They are usually well-known researchers in their field of study or area of interest. They manage the group throughout the whole research process. They may orient them at the start of the engagement to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Research Leaders direct the group in identifying the resources needed, finding these resources, and eventually managing them. They also guide the team in conducting the research properly by providing strategic direction, sharing techniques, and helping them analyze the gathered data. With their experience in the field, Research Leaders usually provide frameworks that the team may work within.
Research specialists and research leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Specialist | Research Leader | |
| Average salary | $52,662 | $107,345 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $77,000 | Between $64,000 And $178,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Novartis | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a research specialist and a research leader in terms of educational background:
| Research Specialist | Research Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Biology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between research specialists' and research leaders' demographics:
| Research Specialist | Research Leader | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.0% Female, 62.0% | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |