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The differences between researchers and historians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a researcher, becoming a historian takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a researcher has an average salary of $67,145, which is higher than the $57,376 average annual salary of a historian.
The top three skills for a researcher include python, lab equipment and C++. The most important skills for a historian are cultural resources, historical research, and historic resources.
| Researcher | Historian | |
| Yearly salary | $67,145 | $57,376 |
| Hourly rate | $32.28 | $27.58 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 30,498 | 606 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
Historians are professionals in social sciences with a specialization in history. They typically research, analyze, and interpret facts of human history. Other duties include collecting and evaluating data from various sources to answer questions on historical events, analyzing physical artifacts, written records and evidence during their investigations, and preserving significant historical documents. Additionally, you will liaise with historical sites such as museums to provide recommendations about historical conservation and the importance of historical sites, monuments, and artifacts.
Researchers and historians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Researcher | Historian | |
| Average salary | $67,145 | $57,376 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $119,000 | Between $26,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Lowell, MA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Renaissance Learning | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between a researcher and a historian in terms of educational background:
| Researcher | Historian | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Biology | History |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between researchers' and historians' demographics:
| Researcher | Historian | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1% | Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3% |
| 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, 6.8% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 7.8% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 11% |