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The differences between researchers and market researchers 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 market researcher takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a researcher has an average salary of $67,145, which is higher than the $52,309 average annual salary of a market researcher.
The top three skills for a researcher include python, lab equipment and C++. The most important skills for a market researcher are data analysis, primary research, and data collection.
| Researcher | Market Researcher | |
| Yearly salary | $67,145 | $52,309 |
| Hourly rate | $32.28 | $25.15 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 30,498 | 23,734 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 41 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
In businesses, a market researcher is primarily responsible for performing market research and analysis. Although the extent of their duties usually depends on their place of employment, it typically includes coordinating with other experts, gathering and analyzing data, identifying new business opportunities, studying market activities, creating questionnaires, and developing test structures. Through their research findings, they must produce detailed reports and presentations for managers and even executives. Furthermore, as a market researcher, it is essential to understand the company's needs, including its vision and mission.
Researchers and market researchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Researcher | Market Researcher | |
| Average salary | $67,145 | $52,309 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $119,000 | Between $32,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Linden, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Renaissance Learning | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a researcher and a market researcher in terms of educational background:
| Researcher | Market Researcher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Biology | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between researchers' and market researchers' demographics:
| Researcher | Market Researcher | |
| Average age | 41 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1% | Male, 48.4% Female, 51.6% |
| 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 14.0% White, 64.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |