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Job outlook for research team leaders in the United States
Research team leader job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected research team leader job growth rate is 19% from 2018-2028.
About 150,300 new jobs for research team leaders are projected over the next decade.
Research team leader salaries have increased 5% for research team leaders in the last 5 years.
There are over 4,581 research team leaders currently employed in the United States.
There are 117,575 active research team leader job openings in the US.
The average research team leader salary is $100,872.
Are research team leader jobs in demand?
Research team leader job and salary trends over time
Research team leader jobs over time
Research team leader job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,581 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 4,345 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 4,272 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 4,018 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,755 | 0.00% |
Average research team leader salary over time
Research team leader salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $100,872 | $48.50 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $97,776 | $47.01 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $96,749 | $46.51 | --0.2% |
| 2022 | $96,918 | $46.59 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $95,891 | $46.10 | +0.7% |
Research team leader jobs by state
Most common states for research team leaders
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 347 | 50% |
| 2 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 438 | 41% |
| 3 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 1,148 | 37% |
| 4 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,480 | 36% |
| 5 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 269 | 36% |
| 6 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 292 | 34% |
| 7 | Vermont | 623,657 | 186 | 30% |
| 8 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 307 | 29% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,516 | 27% |
| 10 | Delaware | 961,939 | 258 | 27% |
| 11 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,236 | 26% |
| 12 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 346 | 26% |
| 13 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 523 | 25% |
| 14 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 480 | 25% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,346 | 24% |
| 16 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,597 | 23% |
| 17 | Alaska | 739,795 | 169 | 23% |
| 18 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,597 | 22% |
| 19 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,133 | 21% |
| 20 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 1,395 | 21% |
Most common cities for research team leaders
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marlborough | 1 | 3% | $93,966 |
| 2 | Shrewsbury | 1 | 3% | $94,044 |
Research Team Leader job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of research team leader experts
North Dakota State University
University of Nebraska - Omaha
Middlebury College
University of Cincinnati
Pepperdine University
Dillard University
Bowling Green State University
Washington University in St Louis
Howard University
Illinois State University
Montana State University
Texas Tech University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Grove City College
Hanover College
Bradley University
Humboldt State University
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L
Capstone CoordinatorWhat general advice would you give to a Research Team Leader?
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L: By saying "Yes". Most companies have standard salaries or small scale for adjusting salary. Per Diem jobs, research interventionist, additional weekend on call, adjunct jobs, and other opportunities gives you the ability to increase salary and opportunities.
What will help Research Team Leaders increase their earning potential?
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L: I would suggest they keep an open mind and don't be fearful of the unknown, embrace it. I think there is a lot of stress of a getting a certain job or style of job, but taking different opportunities increases your connections and experiences.
What general advice would you give to a Research Team Leader?
Christina Weber PhD: There are a number of skills that will be important. Soft skills such as creativity, adaptability, collaboration, emotional intelligence, and persuasion. In addition, there is a growing need for folks who have high cultural competence, especially with understanding the experiences of diverse groups. Finally, there is a need for folks to have skills in social science research—understanding how to develop research projects, conduct surveys, focus groups, as well as experience with programs such as GIS, SPSS, and r-studio.
What will help Research Team Leaders increase their earning potential?
Christina Weber PhD: My advice to students is to use the Career Center for support—practice interviewing, have several people read their resume. I also suggest people get on LinkedIn and start to develop their professional networks. Finally, I think folks should understand that careers happen over time and that your first job will likely not be your only job and that many people have winding career trajectories. It’s important to stay open and adaptable to the job market. Also, do not sell your skills short. You have a lot to add to the professional landscape.
What general advice would you give to a Research Team Leader?
John Lyden: Research skills (ability to find and interpret information), oral and written communication skills (ability to present information clearly), data analysis and interpretation, language interpretation and translation. Computer facility will be highly valued. Employers will include those in higher education, government, non-profits, research institutes, and museums.
What general advice would you give to a Research Team Leader?
Jeffrey Knopf: Some of the most important skills are traditional skills. Good communication skills are still number one. The ability to write well and communicate clearly will always help you. Qualitative research skills also remain important. The ability to learn from history or understand other cultures will always be valuable. Beyond this, I am seeing increasing demand for a variety of hard practical skills, such as data analytics or imagery analysis. Finally, in a world where the problems of misinformation and disinformation keep getting worse, critical thinking skills and the ability to discern what is true and what is fake will only increase in importance.
What will help Research Team Leaders increase their earning potential?
Dr. Jennifer Caplan PhD: My biggest advice would be to use the skills you have spent 4 years developing to your best advantage! The transition from being a senior who knows a lot to a new member of a field can be rough, so just remember that you have killer reading comprehension, excellent writing skills, and an ability to synthesize information that far outstrips colleagues who came through less interdisciplinary majors, so use those to learn quickly and nail your new workload!
What general advice would you give to a Research Team Leader?
Anna Penner: Other than getting a job teaching sociology, there really aren't jobs that will be advertised as looking for a sociologist. But sociology gives you tools to be able to work in nearly whatever industry you want to be in. Don't limit yourself to a "sociology" job and don't sell yourself short because you don't have a major the job may be aimed at. Because many people don't have a clear understanding of what sociology is, you will likely need to explain how your degree has positioned you to be uniquely qualified to do the job you're applying for. You have a lot of skills that employers want and need; look over job descriptions and find ways that you can meet and exceed the expectations for those jobs and make sure to call attention to them in job applications and interviews.
What Research Team Leader skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Anna Penner: Market yourself strategically. Think about what you learned by getting a sociology degree--the ability to do original research and analyze data, the ability to understand how institutions shape society and individuals, the ability to think critically about problems you see in the world around you. Make sure to highlight the assets that you bring to the table as a possible outsider to the industry you are applying for. Also be aware that you may need to spend some time making less than you'd like, but know what you're worth, and after some time proving yourself at your organization make sure you're properly compensated for what you add to the team.
Martha Taylor
Professor and Chair of ClassicsWhat Research Team Leader skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Martha Taylor: Stay abreast of new trends. Read broadly and be widely curious. Keep up with advances in English literature (since so much of interpretation of Classical texts follows similar lines).
Giovanna Percontino
Communication Career Coach, M.Ed.What will help Research Team Leaders increase their earning potential?
Giovanna Percontino: Take a salary negotiation workshop at U Career Success. Research the current trends and salaries.
What general advice would you give to a Research Team Leader?
Giovanna Percontino: Research the industries that really speak to your values and philosophies. Look for the companies you want to work for not necessarily the role. Align your skills with the roles you are interested make sure you are a good fit. Ask questions to those who are in the industry or jobs you would love to be. These are just conversations with successful people.
What Research Team Leader skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Giovanna Percontino: The soft skills are really important now: Communication, Adaptability, Reliability, Leadership, Writing, Rigor
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Research Team Leader job market given the pandemic?
Eva Baham: With the hope that the economy returns to a sense of normalcy accompanied by stability in family incomes, families and individuals may seek ways to re-add a quality of life to their activities. Visits to museums (inside and outside), libraries, tourist destinations and other venues requiring information guided by sound and reputable knowledge should require individuals with a history background.
What soft skills should all Research Team Leaders possess?
Malcolm Forbes Ph.D.: Presentation skills are key - staying up to date on new technologies will be very important (for example, there is now a way to insert yourself into a pptx file and point to things on the slide). Also multiple cameras so you can change perspectives is changing how people give talks. Writing skills are also important, but in industry "less is more" so these skills must be developed to make conciseness a priority. No one reads long emails any more, so clear, short, to the point writing is essential.
Attention to diversity and inclusion will grow - finding internal biases that may or may not be intentional, and how to eliminate or minimize their impact, will also be important.
Sharon Deem DVM, PhD
Director of Saint Louis zoo institute for Conservation Medicine, Adjunct professor at WUSTLWashington University in St Louis
Institute for Conservation Medicine
How have salaries changed over time for Research Team Leaders?
Sharon Deem DVM, PhD: My field of One Health is so varied, as are the salaries. You may have a career as an infectious disease specialist, such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, a position in a state public health agency, work for a zoological park, or be a forester. The list of careers within One Health are as varied as the range of the salaries people may receive. As a wildlife veterinarian and epidemiologist, I think salaries have not changed significantly, albeit keeping up with inflation, over the past couple of decades.
Rui Diogo Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorHoward University
Anatomy Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Research Team Leaders?
Rui Diogo Ph.D.: Probably yes, because the pandemic has decreased the economy, so all kind of jobs are affected.
What soft skills should all Research Team Leaders possess?
Ross Kennedy: They should have skills associated with an education grounded in the liberal arts. There have been a lot of surveys and studies on what tech and non-tech business leaders want in their employees and they all reveal the same thing: they want employees who understand human nature and psychology, who have a sense of empathy and an ability to put themselves in someone else's shoes, and who can think creatively to solve problems. They also highly value people who can write clearly and effectively, who have the ability to construct a concise, persuasive argument. Most broadly, they want people who know how to think analytically and how to learn.
Dr. Walter Fleming Ph.D.
Department Head and ProfessorMontana State University
Department of Native American Studies
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Research Team Leaders?
Dr. Walter Fleming Ph.D.: The pandemic has been particularly difficult for Native communities and other people of color, as well as people living in pockets of poverty. Many people in indigenous communities have passed away due to complications of COVID. Native communities have been hit particularly hard because of the already high health disparities, such as heart disease and diabetes. Much cultural knowledge has been lost because of the high toll among our Elders. It will no doubt take generations to recover from the loss of knowledge due to COVID 19, if at all. As they say, when an Elder dies, it is like a library has burned down.
Graduates in ethnic studies should be aware that these communities have many challenges and have already experienced historical trauma. The communities are looking to rebuild and reestablish their infrastructures and lifeways.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Research Team Leader job market given the pandemic?
Sean Cunningham Ph.D.: Schools have been incorporating online/virtual components into the learning experience for several years now, but the pandemic has accelerated that process by quite a bit. Graduates entering the market in 2021 and beyond will need to be able to speak to these technological realities. Whether it's in the classroom as a teacher or in some other field, the ability to foster effective communication through non-traditional means will be important.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Research Team Leaders?
Sean Cunningham Ph.D.: Graduates in any field should be looking to supplement their degree with additional certifications, though I haven't seen any evidence of a single "most important" certificate or license for history majors. The one possible exception would be for those who want to translate their history degree into a career in national security or public service of some other sort. In those cases, a certificate in Strategic Studies, such as the one we offer at Texas Tech, has been shown to help.
What will help Research Team Leaders increase their earning potential?
Heidi Jo Newberg: Students who have a strong command of programming are in heavy demand whether they stay in astronomy or decide to pursue employment in the private sector. Taking programming classes and getting computational experience in research settings will put students in a good position to earn higher salaries.
What's a good job out of college for Research Team Leaders?
DJ Wagner Ph.D.: What constitutes "a good job" will vary by the individual. Every graduate has their own set of priorities. Some need to feel they are helping to address societal issues. Others want to earn a certain minimum salary to support a desired lifestyle. Still others want to be on the cutting edge of research, addressing the unanswered questions of physics. The AIP SRC provides data on different aspects of physics majors' job satisfaction, such as job security, level of responsibility, and intellectual challenge. (https://www.aip.org/statistics/reports/physics-bachelors-initial-employment2014.) But as their research manager Patrick Mulvey puts it, "a high satisfaction score does not necessarily mean it is a 'good job.'" In my personal opinion, a good job is one that you enjoy pursuing, that takes advantage of your unique abilities and knowledge, that provides opportunities for personal and intellectual/professional growth, and that pays you enough to support your household. The weight assigned to each of those characteristics will depend upon the individual graduate. The diverse career paths pursued by physics graduates reflect such diverse priorities.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Research Team Leaders?
DJ Wagner Ph.D.: I would have to say that the biggest impact is due not to the courses a student takes but to what professional opportunities outside of the classroom the student pursues. The employers with which I've spoken suggest that evidence of independent research projects and of the ability to work collaboratively are very important considerations in the hiring process. Networking is also key. At Grove City College, we encourage our physics majors to get involved in research starting their freshman year, and we provide many opportunities for them to network with alumni in the field and by attending conferences. Research builds several critical skills of value to employers: the ability to take ownership of a project and follow it through over a period of time, the ability to work as a team toward a common goal, the ability to operate and trouble-shoot apparatus (for experimental research), the ability to extract meaning from data, etc. Interacting with professionals in the field gives students a wide perspective about possible career paths, connections within those careers, and an understanding of the current state of the field not typically obtained in college courses.
When I have heard professionals speak to students at conferences, they often recommend that physics majors take communication and management courses in addition to their required physics curriculum. The skills and knowledge gained in those courses can help graduates navigate the corporate world successfully.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Research Team Leader job market given the pandemic?
DJ Wagner Ph.D.: The long-term effects of the pandemic are still unknown and hard to forecast. The Statistical Research Center of the American Institute of Physics (AIP SRC) provides a lot of information about physics majors in the workforce (www.aip.org/statistics), but they are just starting to collect data for 2020 graduates, so I do not have hard data upon which to base an opinion. Certainly, more jobs are requiring at least some amount of remote collaboration, but that has always been the case for physicists. Multi-national research teams involving hundreds of scientists in both the private and public sectors has been common in physics for quite some time. Due to remote and hybrid learning, our current physics graduates will be more familiar than their predecessors with the various technologies and with the variety of ways in which they can be used to enhance collaboration. The Society of Physics Students (SPS), a national organization supporting undergraduate physics students, provides a host of resources for those seeking careers in physics (https://jobs.spsnational.org/jobseekers/resources/). According to Brad Conrad, the director of SPS, "I can tell you that people are reporting to me that certain sectors are avoiding hiring people while new job opportunities have arisen in surprising ways. The pandemic fundamentally changed how we interact with each other, what skills are valued by potential employers, and how people find employment. Luckily, physics majors are trained to solve problems and the job sector will never run out of those."
As many industries have been negatively impacted by the pandemic, the job market is undoubtedly more competitive than in the recent past. New graduates may have to seek for a first job outside of their preferred specialty. Fortunately, a physics degree equips the graduate with a host of transferrable skills: modeling of complex situations, data analysis, computer programming, problem solving and analysis, and working both collaboratively and independently as needed. Physics majors typically pursue, and succeed in, a host of diverse career paths, so our graduates should be able to adapt to the changing job market and find meaningful employment.
What's a day at work look like for a Research Team Leader?
Anthony Miller: Honestly, right now a recent graduate's "day at work" for one day to the next will likely not look the same. I think it should be expected that recent graduates will spend one day working remotely from the home, and the next be called into workspace with their colleagues face-to-face. Recent graduates will also likely have their jobs go from having no travel at present, to a time in the near future when work trips will be a regular expectation from their employer. The one feature that I would expect to be a regular, day-to-day, part of the job would be continuing education to learn new platforms and technologies to enhance their performance at work. So, spending an hour or two each day researching or acquiring new skills, that is something that I think will become a daily routine.
What technical skills for a Research Team Leader stand out to employers?
John Nielsen Ph.D.: History majors are problem-oriented and have the ability to work collaboratively. They are able to pull together disparate data, analyze it effectively, and present clear interpretations or solutions. These are skills that are transferable to multiple fields and industries and will always be valued by employers
What soft skills should all Research Team Leaders possess?
Dr. Anne Paulet Ph.D.: In terms of soft skills, those probably won't change much, they will simply be practiced differently. Being flexible is important since jobs may switch between home and office and since one may be dealing with someone else working from home and the challenges that can present-what cat owner hasn't had their cat walk in front of the camera or step on the wrong computer key? The ability to work in groups will continue to have importance as well as the ability to manage your own time and meet deadlines. At the same time, the nature of computer camera interaction means that people will have to learn to "read" others differently than they would in an in-person environment. Many recent articles have talked about how it is harder to read facial cues or detect emotional responses on the computer. Again, those presently taking synchronous classes have the opportunity to practice these skills--providing students turn on their cameras rather than relying only on audio. If the past year has demonstrated anything, it is that people need to be more culturally aware and sensitive and also be able to work with people of diverse backgrounds. History classes are a great way for students to better understand what others have gone through and how that might impact interaction today. Additionally, history classes-as well as college in general-should provide students with the skills to help create the kind of changes in institutions and companies that need to be made to make them more inclusive. Perhaps the greatest skill college students have is the ability to learn. I never intended to teach online, yet here I am doing just that. It required learning new ways to approach teaching, reconsideration of the ways students learned in the new environment, and figuring out new online programs to make all this happen. I was forced to do this as a result of the pandemic but most students will find that this sort of adjustment-whether foreseen or not-will be a regular part of their career path. The ability to learn these new skills, to apply new methods and to approach issues in new and innovative ways will help them stand out when it comes to looking for a job.
What's a day at work look like for a Research Team Leader?
Dr. Anne Paulet Ph.D.: I am sorry but I don't think I have the ability to describe a day of work. Too much of that rests on the field the grad goes into. Many jobs will likely involve more online time but that does not apply evenly across fields. Some companies or institutions may reconsider the way they configure or use indoor and outdoor space, but that again is dependent on varying factors. The best advice is be flexible, innovative, friendly and willing to learn.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Research Team Leader job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Anne Paulet Ph.D.: I believe that a number of companies will keep some of their employees working from home or at least be more flexible about it. This obviously gives an advantage to anyone with computer skills, which most college students should have these days. Additionally, graduates will have to be both articulate in written correspondence-including emails-as that will become an increasing part of work and will also have to be comfortable and professional in front of a computer camera. For students who will be graduating soon and are presently taking online classes which involve discussion-as many history classes do-this is a great time to practice those on camera communication skills before hitting the job market. Students should also be practicing their group work skills. Increasingly companies tend to use groups of people with differing skills to achieve their project goals. The ability to work well with a group can be hard to master and anyone with experience successfully doing so-say in a class assignment-would have an advantage. At the same time, with the increased likelihood of working from home, those seeking employment will also want to demonstrate their ability to manage their time, be self-motivated, stay organized and meet deadlines with very limited supervision. The ability to do well in your classes while juggling other issues during the pandemic can be a good example of this ability. Moreover, the mix of synchronous and asynchronous classes many students are taking will provide a really good opportunity to establish a system for managing the workflow and meeting deadlines even before entering the job market. While some sectors of the economy will take longer to recover-restaurants for instance-areas where history students might shine, such as museum work, should rebound relatively well. Additionally, museums, along with other institutions, will be seeking to increase their online presence so any ability to envision interactive and engaging ways for these institutions to reach a broader audience would be a sought after quality. Finally, there will be a growing number of jobs that may not even exist now-jobs that foster environmental awareness or sustainability, jobs that seek to bring people together across distances and dividing lines whether racial, ethnic, gender-based, political or religious, and jobs that use technology in new and innovative ways. I know that I have had to rethink the way I teach and the methods I use (as well as learn some new computer programs) to better meet the needs of teaching online. As companies continue to increase their online presence, students will need these skills as well.