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The differences between research team leaders and research specialists 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 team leader and a research specialist. Additionally, a research team leader has an average salary of $100,872, which is higher than the $52,662 average annual salary of a research specialist.
The top three skills for a research team leader include data analysis, data collection and R. The most important skills for a research specialist are data collection, patients, and research projects.
| Research Team Leader | Research Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $100,872 | $52,662 |
| Hourly rate | $48.50 | $25.32 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 117,575 | 79,341 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A research team leader assists the project directors in defining the objectives, strategies, responsibilities, and tasks for the team members. They also guarantee that all the research is done correctly and promptly to ensure objectives are met. They also ensure all the activities are limited to the annual or project budget.
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 team leaders and research specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Team Leader | Research Specialist | |
| Average salary | $100,872 | $52,662 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $156,000 | Between $35,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Novartis |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a research team leader and a research specialist in terms of educational background:
| Research Team Leader | Research Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Business | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between research team leaders' and research specialists' demographics:
| Research Team Leader | Research Specialist | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 54.2% Female, 45.8% | Male, 38.0% Female, 62.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.1% White, 64.9% 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 | 10% | 10% |