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The differences between researchers and data scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a researcher and a data scientist. Additionally, a data scientist has an average salary of $106,104, which is higher than the $67,145 average annual salary of a researcher.
The top three skills for a researcher include python, lab equipment and C++. The most important skills for a data scientist are python, data science, and visualization.
| Researcher | Data Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $67,145 | $106,104 |
| Hourly rate | $32.28 | $51.01 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 30,498 | 106,973 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A researcher is responsible for collating, organizing, and verifying necessary information for a specific subject. Researchers' duties include analyzing data, gathering and comparing resources, ensuring facts, sharing findings with the whole research team, adhering to required methodologies, performing fieldwork as needed, and keeping critical information confidential. Researchers must be knowledgeable about the current market trends and align findings with the research goals. A researcher must show strong communication skills, as well as strong attention to detail and time-management skills to meet deadlines under minimal supervision.
A Data Scientist analyzes information from multiple sources in order to gain maximum insight that can give the company a competitive advantage. They work in different domains, including manufacturing, healthcare, education, and finance.
Researchers and data scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Researcher | Data Scientist | |
| Average salary | $67,145 | $106,104 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $119,000 | Between $75,000 And $148,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | Renaissance Learning | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | - | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a researcher and a data scientist in terms of educational background:
| Researcher | Data Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Biology | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Columbia University in the City of New York |
Here are the differences between researchers' and data scientists' demographics:
| Researcher | Data Scientist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1% | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 6.9% Asian, 18.8% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |