Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between researchers and postdoctoral associates 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 postdoctoral associate. Additionally, a researcher has an average salary of $67,145, which is higher than the $54,350 average annual salary of a postdoctoral associate.
The top three skills for a researcher include python, lab equipment and C++. The most important skills for a postdoctoral associate are patients, TIP, and data analysis.
| Researcher | Postdoctoral Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $67,145 | $54,350 |
| Hourly rate | $32.28 | $26.13 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 30,498 | 18,093 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| 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 postdoctoral associate is responsible for researching to support scientific claims and theories by collecting evidence and information to answer scientific questions. Postdoctoral associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, to interact with people and document investigation findings. They also utilize laboratory tools and equipment for scientific researches, conduct field investigations, and interview participants. A postdoctoral associate designs comprehensive research models to discuss results with the panel and the team efficiently and accurately.
Researchers and postdoctoral associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Researcher | Postdoctoral Associate | |
| Average salary | $67,145 | $54,350 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $119,000 | Between $39,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Berkeley, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Maine |
| Best paying company | Renaissance Learning | Argonne National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | - | Education |
There are a few differences between a researcher and a postdoctoral associate in terms of educational background:
| Researcher | Postdoctoral Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between researchers' and postdoctoral associates' demographics:
| Researcher | Postdoctoral Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1% | Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8% |
| 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, 5.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 39.4% White, 42.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |